Changes of Life

Ah, how I love a winter morning. Eric's off to fetch the day's breakfast ingredients, and I've woken up with the itch to write a little. My crowded mind is flooded with words so I'm giving my fingers back their freedom. Thanksgiving is at our backs now, and most everyone we love knows our blessing of good news so I'll bring it here now to share with those who have not yet heard. We are pregnant. Yes, the pregnant where I am eating an entire jar of dill pickles by myself. Yes, the pregnant where I am wearing stretchy pants that go up to my ribs. Yes, the pregnant where I am sleeping 12 hours every single night, with some napping in the afternoon. It's a funny, wondrous adventure. One that I feel like I've still just begun, even though I'm 14 weeks along. I say "we" are pregnant simply because..I am physically and Eric is mentally. We both agree that if he were able to carry our sweet child in his tummy- he would be the one to do it! haha. I would gladly take care of him, as he is of me, and I would gladly allow him to take on the rather, uhm, fascinating task we like to call 'child birth'. He is mentally pregnant because he is right there with me the entire way, every leg of the journey. He gets the grumpy and the crazy happy, and takes them both with a loving grin. I am beyond blessed to be carrying our child, and so thankful. I'm glad men are not the chosen ones to do the job, but it's still fun to think about sometimes, haha! We are pregnant, we are expecting, we are in it for the long haul....and so so happy about it.

As we gradually shared the good news with close friends and family, reactions were mixed and I was really forced to take a step back at some moments. We have reached this amazing, joyous time in life and there are a handful of souls who seem genuinely shocked and confused with our pregnancy. It really takes a strong marriage with our spouse and with the Lord to get us through some days and some reactions. Bewilderment floods me sometimes as people shake their heads or ask you "why?" when you share the good news. I will state my case here and it will leave my lips forever. I will not discuss this again, as we are blessed with this child and negativity has no place in our lives. Eric and I have been together for nearly 8 years. I am about to be 24 years old, and Eric is 25 years old. I am graduating from college in 2 weeks. We have been married for 11 months; we feel like we've been married for 8 years. We have a great marriage and a great support system behind us. We get our strength and direction from the Lord, and are always looking for guidance. All this said, I feel that it is a blessing that we're pregnant, and that we should be happy and positive and jumping with joy. I am not a 16 year old high school girl, pregnant by a drug-dealing boyfriend who beats me. We are in a wonderfully created, God-centered marriage and we believe that this sweet child is going to enhance our joy and our quality of life beyond measure. Nothing but good can come from this. I ask that the next time you see us or speak with us, that you draw from your heart and give us some words of encouragement or love. It will go a million miles. Negativity simply breaks down the soul, and we are really in the business of building up our lives at this point! Preparing our home, our souls, our minds, and our entire lives. We would love a smile and a hug and a good story if you've got one.

Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I might be classified as someone a little 'obsessed' with Christmas and the holiday season. It brings a warmth to our society that seems to be less present in our everyday lives. Change is being donated as you enter the monopoly on our society we like to call Wal-Mart, and beautiful little children are singing Christmas carols as they hold onto their mom's grocery basket. The shelves are stocked with an array of red and green cracker boxes and cake mixes, and families are loading up on once-a-year goodies. The street lights are wrapped with sparkling lights, and plush wreaths are on every door. Cookies are being baked, and warm hugs from grandparents and old friends are being had. Something happens to our hearts this time of year, and I really adore it. Focusing on the real reason for the season, Jesus, is what really brings it to life for me. Yes, I know that Christmas is commercialized and such. But I will stand by this time of year until the day I die, for I think it is the most wonderful time of the year. Everyone is more lovey and cuddly and sweet. Smiles are shared more, and giving is a priority. It's a precious time that I cherish.

We put up two trees this year, one big and one small. We had a whole box of brand new ornaments and bows that we got on clearance at Target after Christmas last year, and that is what went on our little tree. We got these things for pennies. It was all 90% off.

 The small one is in our bedroom, and I'm just in love with it. It's illuminated with clear lights, and we trimmed it with chocolate brown and sparkly gold glass ornaments. I would not normally agree with such an untraditional tree, however I've found that, once again, variety is the spice of life- and I like it. It matches the chocolate brown curtains and sheets in our room, among other things, and it just adds a new spark of joy to the space. Much like this cold glass of chocolate milk that I'm sipping on right now, adding a little bit of extra merriment to this blustery morning.

Our big tree is in the living room in front of the window for all the world to see. It's our traditional tree, adorned with our ornaments dating back to 2003 (when we started dating). We treasure these ornaments, having a story that goes with each and every special one. Hanging up our wedding and honeymoon ornaments sparked a particular feeling of happiness in my soul. It's the first year that we've been able to unpack them and hang them on the tree. The resplendent words,"Our first Christmas 2009" shine on several of the ornaments, as well as "Breckenridge" and "Honeymoon" and "Love". I can't wait for the day when we're sitting in our quaint little old home, in our 70's, with our grandchildren, decorating the tree, and we can tell of the stories that go with these lovely pieces of glass.

Eric has always loved Christmas villages. It was always his "thing" growing up to set up his family's big village and hook up all the lights and arrange the snow, placing each piece of the little world in just the right spot. My family never had a village, we had other decorations and never really got into the whole village thing. So, this was something that I was interested in after our first Christmas together 7 years ago. One day several months ago, as Eric and I were taking our usual weekly stroll through the thrift stores of Edmond, low and behold....for a mere $10 was a beautiful, dainty, ceramic Christmas Village. We snatched this treasure up and made our way to the cash register, hoping to not get robbed before we got there. Our arms clinched around the large box, we paid for it and left. It is now set up in our living room and bringing happiness to all who enter. It contains many pieces, a few of which are a post office, chapel, people, trees, etc...



Another aspect that has changed in our lives lately is breakfast. We've become splendidly acquainted with cooking this delightful meal, one which we usually satisfied with a bowl of cold cereal or a granola bar. This is yet another reason why winter is my favorite time of year, cranking up the stove not only serves as a cooking element, but also a nice early-morning hand warmer as you wake up. I look forward to mornings now because the night-before-plans of a great big breakfast fill my heart with happiness and I wake with a smile on my face. We've explored things like omelets, blueberry muffins, pancakes, sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, etc... and we've adored them all. Breakfast IS the greatest meal of the day, I now see. Throughout this pregnancy, many food aversions have shown their ugly faces, but thankfully breakfast foods have not been a part of this and I hope it stays that way! I'm enjoying this new facet of life and the world of breakfasts.

Yes life is tough, and a yes life is short. But I must say, I am enjoying this tough, short life. Having a sweet baby will not be the easiest thing in the world, and being young and just beginning in the 'real world' will not necessarily be a joyride...but you know, I think we can make it through with joy in our hearts and a big grin on our faces. Concentrating on the good and not the bad, seeing the best in difficult people, and living everyday like it were our last...these are things we want to strive to surround ourselves with. I am a true true believer that everything happens for a reason, so with each new happening I find adventure and excitement. We must know what bad is to know what good is. Taking tough times with a smile and enjoying the best times with a laugh will take us farther than embracing any pessimistic, gloomy moment that tries to swallow our joy. I may never have a white-picket-fence around my house, but I've got one around my heart, and that's all that matters.

"The most significant change in a person's life is a change of attitude. Right attitudes produce right actions." 

- William J. Johnston

"The reality is that changes are coming. ... They must come. You must share in bringing them."

- John Hersey

All Our Love,

JenEric