Lately

The past several days have been busy. The days have flown by with family visiting, a lovely baby shower (what a huge blessing!), writing thank you notes for such wonderful baby gifts, fitting in last social engagements before the baby arrives and packing up our home. On Memorial Day we packed quite a few boxes and wrapped three wall hangings (things are beginning to look more and more bare!).

Our lil packing helper has been adding humor to the packing process, which makes wrapping up this chapter of our lives a bit easier. {Saying good-bye is not fun. :-/}




The lil robin babies have hatched!! They hatched middle of last week. They are growing oh so fast, but here is a photo of them when they are brand brand new. :-) Watching the cute lil robin family grow is such a neat experience.

 

Moving Box Mountain

With baby on the way and our moving date just a couple weeks after, we have been packing as much as possible.

Our mountain of boxes has been growing steadily! It'd be nice to store the boxes in the basement or guest bedroom (not such an eye sore)...but it's easier to keep them in the dining room, which is on the main level. We don't want to wear out our moving helpers by asking them to bring the boxes all the way from the basement or 2nd floor to the moving truck!

Ideally, I'd like to have most everything packed about two weeks before Baby J's due date...just in case he decides to arrive a bit early! Hopefully we're able to accomplish that and live with the essentials until we move in late July.



While we've been packing, another family has been moving in:

This robin family has parked itself on our front door's wreath. We've been trying to use the back door more often because the momma robin gets quite persnickety whenever we use the front door: she will fly off of the nest, sit in a nearby tree, then share with us her dismay by chirping "go away, go away!"

I plan on taking that wreath back to Fort Wayne with us...hopefully Mr. and Mrs. Robin are empty nesters by then. :-)

60 days

60 days until Baby J's due date! 

Time has flown by and we can't wait to meet our lil bundle of joy. 

He is an active little boy (his kicks are strong!) and we are looking forward to 

getting to know him better beginning early July. 

Only a couple more months to go! <3 

Exciting!

Tonight is the night for vicarage assignments! 

At 7pm est, the vicarage assignment service at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Waye, IN 

can be watched live here: www.ctsfw.edu

Tomorrow evening at 7pm est, the call placement service can be watched live here: www.ctsfw.edu

{It's hard to believe that just a year ago we were sitting in the chapel at seminary, anxiously awaiting our vicarage assignment...hearts racing, sweaty palms, smiling at our friends who had just received their vicarage assignments...and eagerly awaiting our own assignment. Thankfully, "J" is near the front of the alphabet! ;-)}

Here we are on vicarage assignment day. 

This picture was taken just an hour or two before the service began.

Anywho, back to today and tomorrow's events. Friends, we are so excited for all awaiting their assignments and placements. Our prayers are with your, dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

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.