Leaving Much Like I Came

I started working at Bethany Christian Services in September 2003. When I came to Bethany I was in a tiny office off Little Page Street downtown. Daily there was no one in the office the majority of the time except myself. Today is my last day at Bethany and it is truly bittersweet, and it ends much the same way I started. At around 3pm I was the only one in the office finishing up a few last minute tasks before I leave for good. I have worked at Bethany for the past seven years as a pregnancy counselor. Helping women and families who are in need of positive options for their unborn children. Pregnancy Counseling has been a good match for me and I could not have seen myself doing anything else for the past seven years. Though I will miss Bethany I truly look forward to what God has in store. I hope to live every day to the fullest and not take any of the time I have to spend with my precious daughter for granted. The past seven years have flown by and I know Ainsley's little life will do the same. I am sad to close the "career" chapter of my life, but I am so excited to start the next chapter. I have been blessed to be able to serve women and children for the past seven years. Now I look forward to serving my husband and daughter and hopefully raising Ainsley to where she will seek to ultimately serve the Lord, but to also serve people.

Thank You Is Not Enough

Josh and I through this whole pregnancy experience have been overwhelmed with God's goodness to us. For the most part the pregnancy has gone smooth, my health has remained stable and really I have had no major complications. Back in March we made the decision to renovate the spare room and the living room as well. These decisions were some what necessary. Our spare room which would be the baby's nursery did not have proper working ventilation and we technically had two living rooms, so the upstairs one has become a dining room. Josh's dad stepped right in helping with the renovations, building etc, along with several other people. We can't say thank you enough for the help with the building side of things.

I know people must think I am a broken record because I am always writing these long posts thanking various people. I hope it will be a true reflection of how grateful I am to those individuals and ultimately God who has provided the help we need. Due to Josh being so busy with renovations the outside had needless to say turned into a jungle. Our grass was almost two feet high, the house needed power washing, the weeds needed to be pulled on top of the various other indoor things we still need to finish. This week proved to be very productive and we have many people to thank.

It started Thursday when Damian called and offered to come and cut our grass, huge help. This was followed up by the blessing tidal wave on Saturday. My mom and dad put a small work crew together to come declare jihad on the outside. HUGE help! The crew consisted of my mom, dad, Kevin D, Cierra, Tori and Charlie McElvy. The overall of what was accomplished was: house power washed, weed eating, back deck and furniture cleaned off, carpets laid in the basement, curtains ironed and the nursery finished being organized. Due to all this help it also helped Josh get a jump on getting the crown molding for the dinning room started and it allowed me to organize a few things I had been wanting to work on but did not have the time.

All in all Josh and I just want to say a huge thank you. Our house outside no longer looks like Sanford and Son and we no longer dread walking outside. We are grateful for everyone who has helped with all the recent projects, but this weekend was especially helpful and we are appreciative.

We've come a long way BABY

Finally, the nursery is done. Only a few minor things left like hanging pictures, curtains and that is pretty much it. Josh and I seriously don't want to embark on anymore home projects anytime soon. Josh hopes to finish up with the dining room very soon and then a break is in store. We were talking last night and we both said we can't believe how far the house has come since we purchased it 5 years ago. The bathroom has been completely redone, our bedroom painted and crown molding, lots of out door projects (though you would never know now!) We joke that our yard looks like "Sanford and Son". Then all the projects that have been done this summer with the nursery and dining room. We are looking forward to being finished and not having to come home to painters plastic being on the floor. Mostly I think we look forward to having people over again. Josh and I love our friends and the relationships we have built over the years and we LONGGGG to have those long time friends and new friends over soon!!!

Then last, but not least I have to say a HUGE thank you to my husband most of all and then to all of the many helpers. Josh has seriously been working every weekend since March on some sort of house project. He has sacrificed Triathlon season and his usual daily work out regimen. I am sure there is more of this to come as we both enter parenthood, but I am super thankful for him. We can't even begin to repay or thank everyone that has been sooo helpful. Our parents who have spent countless hours working on various things (cleaning, building, painting, brainstorming, moral support etc), Kevin D - demolition, Damian and Jonathan - various projects, Gerry Slack - complete HVAC renovation, Amber Slack - amazing paintings in the nursery, Charley McElvy - painting trim, My brother - yard work and several others, if I forgot anyone I am sorry. We are just overwhelmed with everyone's help and generosity. We look forward to welcoming our little girl home.

Were almost done!!

This is going to be a quick post. However, I have failed on my promise of blogging more. I can't believe how busy things can get. Well basically the nursery is almost done. We started back in March and boy has it taken a while, but the finished product is within reach. I will post a picture of the room in March and then some recent pictures. Again it is not completely finished, but almost. Paintings on wall will be finished this week, carpet goes in Saturday, touch ups every night this week and furniture begins to be set up next Sunday. Almost there. We are also almost done with our dining room project. Yes, the nursery turned in to a two room project. In the end it is worth it, because now we can have more people over for dinner than two!! Can't wait to show you the finished nursery project.