This week...

...has been full of planning and organizing for the upcoming transitions: 

Baby J and the move back to Fort Wayne.

Packing.

Freezer meals.

Moving truck quotes.

Doctors in Fort Wayne.

Health insurance for Baby J.

My position's replacement at work.

Speaking of transitions...

Next week is when two very important things will be happening at the seminary: vicarage placement service and call service. I am anxious and excited for all who are eagerly awaiting their assignments!

The constant season of change continues within the seminary as many prepare for their vicarage assignment, their call, or preparing to move back to Fort Wayne for a final year of classes. {Ohhhh transition.}

Amidst all of the busyness, temporariness and for some, loneliness, let us continue to seek the Lord as our Refuge and Strength. Dealing with constant transition can be tough, but  keeping in touch with encouraging friends and family (the Body of Christ!) can make a world of a difference!

Philippians 4:6,7

...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

What helps you cope with transition?

Maternity Photos

When visiting my family in late March, my talented sister of Rooney Photography
took some very cute maternity photos of myself, Adam and Baby J. 

She did a fabulous job and we are so excited
to get these sweet photos printed and framed!

Check out more of our photos here!

Spring!

The past few days have been quite warm...80 degrees! This is a record breaking high for the Chicago area. 

The people of Chicagoland are not the only ones who are enjoying the warmer weather...

so are the trees and flowers!

The landscaping is starting to brighten up and reveal their colorful cheery faces.

Warm weather like this in March is nearly unheard of around here...but I'll take 

warmer weather over dirty cold slush any day!

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Baby J is a...

On Monday we went to our 20 week baby appointment for the big ultrasound. This appointment is a big one because measurements of the baby are taken and the baby's health is assessed.

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Another reason why this appointment is so important is because it's when the ultrasound tech tells us if Baby J is a lil boy or a lil girl!

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Baby J is perfectly healthy and an active baby! The ultrasound tech told us that (saraphrased), "You have a very active baby! When you register, you should register for baby gates, outlet plugs, the works!"

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So you probably want to know the sex, right?

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Here is a 20 week baby bump taken a few days after the ultrasound appointment. :-)

You know you've lived...

...in many places when you're trying to address an envelope:

401 Tangle- ...no, that's not it...
7400 August- ...no...
23227 Double- ohf.
1831 Bayview ....nope, not that either.

...or accidentally write down the wrong zip code. {Yay for extra envelopes!}

...or when you forget what time zone you're living in. For example...planning a phone date with a friend and say, "I'll be available anytime after 10 am central time," and your friend says, "Um. I'm in the central time zone, too, silly!"

...or when you pull open what you thought was the silverware drawer. Nope. The silverware drawer was next to the dishwasher in the other house. 


Seminary life involves many transitions. One of the transitions is constantly moving and living somewhere new. It can be tough living in a constant state of "temporaryness" (but it can be fun too! You get to decorate and organize multiple different homes! ;-)). I recently had a great conversation about with this with a couple great friends:

-Keeping in touch with friends and family can be encouraging, refreshing, and scare off loneliness (remember that phone date story I mentioned?).

-Making your current house/apartment/whatever feel like home is important - make it cozy, make it comfy,  make it  yours.

-Stay grounded in the Lord. There are so many changes but the Lord's promises, faithfulness and providence is always there for us! Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Baby Nursery Ideas

We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Baby J early July 2012! There are a few months between now and then to prepare for this special little one...and getting ideas for his or her room is on the to-do list!

Here is a baby boy nursery. I call this my "dream" nursery. Adam and I both like the idea of vintage airplanes for the baby's room. The pieces used in this darling room can grow with him for years to come. The colors are boyish and make the space cozy for naps and reading books!

http://pinterest.com/jacobsen524/baby-boy-nursery/

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Take a peek at this baby girl nursery. This is also a "dream" nursery (it'd be impossible to keep all that crisp whiteness clean!). However, the monochromatic pinks, soothing whites, accents of girly things (chandelier, flourishy frames, silver lamp), and gentle pop of green would make this nursery a relaxing place to be for mommy, daddy and baby.

http://pinterest.com/jacobsen524/baby-girl-nursery/


On February 21st we will find out if Baby J is a boy or girl. Most everyone thinks this active (soccer player!) baby is a boy - the strong suspicion will be answered in just a few weeks. I must say, I can't wait to get started on projects to create this precious baby's penny-wise, yet creative and comfy nursery - watch out, Hobby Lobby! :-)

Downtown Chicago

We've visited downtown Chicago a few times since our move to Chicagoland. Here are a few pictures so that you can share in our adventures! :-)

"The Bean" >>

Snowy Bean! >>   

Our reflection in the Bean >>

Skyline view from the Hancock Tower >>

Another skyline view >>