Confession.

Tonight I was folding laundry and Brad was going to help. This conversation followed.

B: Can I confess something to you?
R: ? Sure?
B: I really hate folding Noah's clothes. They are too annoyingly small and difficult to fold.
R: Wow. (Not sure I said that...but I definitely thought it)

Hilarious that husband of mine.

So Brad folded our big clothes..and I stuck to the tiny baby clothes - which I think are awesome to fold. At least we know what we're good at.

Noah rolled over today. I'm so excited. He rolled from tummy to back once last week. Today he has rolled from back to tummy multiple times. ADORABLE. He gets so stinking mad because his little arm gets stuck. Precious. He's such a sweet little guy, so so so in love with him.

Lesson.

I've learned some things about myself in the last week. I have been down..a little moody, a little grumpy, very sad that I'm not home with my family while Nana has been in the hospital. A little bitter. Basically..if it's not a nice emotion I've probably been there. Not to say we haven't had some nice emotions this past week...Brad took me on a date just the two of us last Monday - it was so sweet and perfect! Little man rolled over for the first time, giggled for the first time, and slept in his crib in his room for the first time. So it's been an awesome week too!

But this is what I learned. Remember when I talked (or complained really) about how I have all these roles to fill and I'm struggling with it. Yadayadayada. Well in our community group we are doing a study called "Gospel Transformation" and this week we discussed the fruits of the spirit.
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self Control

I can guarantee you..these fruits are not always visible..or even present in my life.

So at the end of the lesson there is a question..this week's question was:
What areas of your life are without joy? What are some reasons for this lack? How can the gospel speak to this area of your life.

Which got me to thinking...about those roles I talked about. Here's the roles I think I am in...
Wife
Mother
Daughter
Sister
Grand-daughter
Niece
Aunt
Friend
Nurse
Homemaker

Those are the main ones. There are smaller roles in the day to day..but you get the idea.

Know what's missing on that list?

Child of God.

How different would my life look if I spent my time living out that role to the best of my ability. I have a feeling that I would find such joy and freedom in finding my identity in Christ..that I would be able to remember that each and every single "role" he has me in is an opportunity to bring Him glory. I'm thinking maybe then I might be seeing those fruits of the spirit showing up in my life a little more.

Lesson Learned.

Made my day.

Sometimes...when I'm feeling down and worried..God finds me in my weakness and shows me grace through our sweet little man.

Today..our precious little dude rolled over. I realize it's just a little milestone..one that he is expected to reach...it was perfect timing for this mama! I happened to catch it on camera...not video but pictures so I'm still happy! Who knows if he'll do it again today or anytime soon...I don't care because it happened today!




We had to go to the doctor today. He had a little rash on his neck and it seems to be getting worse. Anyways..not too big of a deal he had a little patch of eczema which got pretty irritated because of his little rolls at his neck..so he ended up with a little yeast to his rash. Makes me so sad!

But we ended up weighing him..15lb 15oz. Big kid this one! Gained 1lb 3oz in the last month. I kinda expected more..but maybe he's slowing down. That wouldn't be terrible because the boy is HEAVY.

Here are a few more pictures from the three month shoot. He wasn't all about the smiles but I don't care..I love all his little expressions.




Have a great night! I'm super excited because Brad is taking me on our first real date since the little man came along! It will be nice to have a night with him! Special thanks to sweet Kathrin for watching Noah - we love you dear friend!

Growing up.

Is hard to do.

That's what I'm learning.

This week Nana had surgery to replace her knee. It was last replaced 34 years ago, so it had kinda worn out its welcome. She is a TROOPER. It's been a tough go and it's hard watching her feel so badly. It's also been hard watching my family be sad and scared. It's tough being a nurse and watching your family member struggle, and having to be in the family role not the nurse role. Rough. Especially rough for my sweet mom. I was so thankful I was able to be there during surgery, and for the past few days..but leaving Saturday was NOT fun.

But being away from Brad for that long was NOT fun either.

I had a breakdown Friday night while talking to Brad and then again while talking to Dad..it's weird feeling like home is two different places. If Brad had been able to be with me up in Indiana...I would have stayed until Nana was home and walking well just to be sure everything was ok. But he couldn't...and our home is in Austin. And we love it...but oh my goodness it's hard to be away from your family when there are things happening.

Boo for being away from people you love. It's part of being an adult. I get it. I think our God is stretching me and growing me. I'm so very thankful for that.

On a happier note..our big sweet boy is 3 months old today! Oh my goodness I can't believe it! We told pictures..but I'll post more tomorrow..because I think I'm going to take a few in the morning to see if I can catch more of a smile. He's so smiley in the mornings.

We took some pictures tonight though. Here we are...


Have a wonderful week!

FOUND!!! and other random thoughts.

Guess what!!!

A few years ago...either my senior year of college or the year Brad and I were married, my great grandmother, Grandma Roth, gave me the last necklace Grandpa Roth gave her before he passed away. It was so very precious to me!

Then one time...I believe last Christmas..maybe last Thanksgiving..maybe August of '09 after El got married - at some point when I was back in Indiana, I couldn't find that precious necklace when we got back to Texas. I couldn't find it anywhere. I was devastated. I just KNEW it was in our closet, or in my carry on, or in a suitcase...I KNEW IT! But seriously. I couldn't find it anywhere. I don't know if you are aware of how many times I have organized the closet in the last year but it's ALOT because while pregnant I was even more compulsive then normal . So many times I have searched through those bags. NOTHING.

A few weeks ago I moved Brad's clothes to the other side of the closet..and then yesterday this is what he sent me...


MY NECKLACE! My sweet necklace from my sweet grandmother..he found it! I knew I didn't lose it! Hanging on one of the racks in our closet, up against the wall. It's probably been there forever! What a blessing that it didn't fall and get sucked into the vacuum, or lost when we replaced the carpet, or caught in clothes and lost wherever it happened to fall. It's found!! I'm so excited. I can't wait to put it on as soon as I get back to Texas!

Also. I hate leaving Brad. Hate is a strong word..but that's how I feel. Noah and I came home for Nana's surgery...I wouldn't miss that for anything..but I sure wish Brad could be here with us.

Nana is amazing. She made it through her knee replacement surgery, and she's doing well. I sure wish I could be here to help her and Papa once she gets home.

I went back to work on Mothers' Day. Who does that? Who chooses to work their first Mother's Day? But oh how thankful I am for my amazing husband. He brought Noah up to see me at work, and made chocolate covered strawberries for my coworkers and me. He's so precious to me. I may have teared up multiple times during the day but I made it through. It was good to be back, I really do love my job. It was NOT fun trying to learn the computer charting. I think I'll get it and be thankful for it..but I felt like I was fumbling through the day.

Let's talk for a minute about the changes while I was gone:
New scrubs (No big deal obviously)
New charting
New ordering system
New flowsheets
New charge system
New places of ALL of our supplies
New plans for construction at the hospital?

OH MY WORD.

Thank goodness that my coworkers were AMAZING on Sunday. They helped me so much..and didn't make me feel dumb since I had forgotten how to do everything! It felt like I was a graduate RN all over again. Whoa.

Anyways. It was good to be back. I can enjoy it for one day a week I think!

Straws make a drink for me. I will not drink out of a cup in public without a straw because it feels dirty! I LOVE straws. I go to Mcdonald's for diet cokes because of the big huge straws! But I go to the Igloo in Lafayette because of the teeny tiny straws! I'm sure that a diet vanilla coke would taste good anywhere..but NEVER as good as the Igloo because of the amazing straws!

Our baby turns three months old on Sunday. How is that possible? He's so absolutely perfect.
At least I sure as heck think so.

I always forget how much I love to read until I pick up a book or my kindle and then plan my days for how I can get even a few minutes to read. Currently I'm reading a book I've already read..but it was long ago and I can't remember it! Yay!

That's it for now! Relaxing for a bit longer with the little man..then heading back down to Indy to the hospital. Have a great day!

My heart hurts.

So this is a serious post. Bear with me. It's my soap box I guess..but it breaks my heart.

The innocence that is taken away from children these days...especially little girls..but also little boys. This world is so broken and lost.

Lately I've noticed this more and more -and I guess that's probably due to Noah- but the more and more I notice it..the more I ache for Jesus. I ache for Him to call these little children to himself.

I look at my sweet innocent child..and realize that he's going to experience things that I will hate...because of the sin in this world, because of his sin nature, because of our sin nature.

Examples:

Yesterday I heard a kid in our neighborhood say "I don't want to go with him...I might get raped" about another little boy. WHAT?! Then he laughed..like that was funny? How is that even a joke..how does he know what that even is? That kid couldn't have been more than 11 years old..IF THAT.

Today I was walking in Sears and I saw a section for girls clothes...Girls Plus. With a picture of a little girl. I'm sorry. Girls Plus section? How many little girls struggle with self esteem and feeling bad about who they are and what they look like..and to pick a precious little girl (who was BEAUTIFUL) by the way..and put her on a picture for girls plus. To single little girls out who may not be as tiny as the others. Seriously.

Then I read this article yesterday. Forgive the harsh title..it has a point. Seriously..push up bras for little girls?

Then I saw a little girl walking around in a pair of jean shorts and a bikini top in our neighborhood and I wanted to stop my car and give her a t-shirt. It's scary.

There's another kid in our neighborhood that likes to call out to me...he says "Hey baby" then makes some inappropriate gestures. Haven't seen him in awhile...but I just wanted to cry. (Please don't think our neighborhood is bad..most of the precious kiddos here are just amazing!)

Once I saw a little girl - 3 years old- singing "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas. Word For Word. Not ok.

Or Teen Mom. Or 16 and Pregnant. Why are we not helping those girls? Why is it ok to put them on TV and watch as their worlds go out of control? For entertainment?

Or how about that Glee is supposed to be a family show...and then they have unbelievably inappropriate scenes. (I can't lie..I've watched Glee..I've even liked it...but I've also turned it off because it's almost made me sick)

Then I think about the kiddos in our foster care system..the ones who have been abused..physically, sexually, emotionally. Their innocence is taken and they NEVER deserved that.

How thankful I am for my Mom and Dad. Dad..I appreciate so much all those times you told me not to wear Abercrombie because of it's way too sexual advertising. Or how you always came and told me to be sure not to change in front of the window. Or for telling me to make sure that I saved my kisses for my husband. Or Mom..for making sure that I always dressed modestly. For never letting me call boys. For helping to realize I didn't need to be forward. All those years I felt like the biggest nerd...I'm so grateful now.

I learned the truth of this verse from you both:
Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
(Hebrews 12:9-11 ESV)

ALL this to say...Lord Jesus please protect these little ones. They are his. I know that this world is broken..and I know that until Jesus returns...that's not going to change. I just pray that in this home it will be different. I wish we could protect Noah from all this...our children to be also - but we only can to a point. But...I pray that God will protect Him in a way that we can't.

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

(Matthew 18:2-6 ESV)

I apologize for the rant.

Easter in Indiana!

Oh my goodness Easter was wonderful! It meant the world to us to get to go home and see both of our families! It felt kind of like a whirlwind, especially for Brad because he was only in town from Friday to Monday. We had a fantastic time!

It was crazy that this time at home we had a child..our child..with us. I still have a hard time believing we have a little 11 week old man in our life. I realize it should probably be believable now...it just seems so amazing but surreal all at the same time. Crazy. Anyways...to bring him home to our amazing family and to introduce him..it was so cool! AWESOME!!

It was also a little bittersweet this time at home because it was the last time that Sarah, Phil, and the girls would be there too. They moved to Florida at the end of the week. We're excited for them...but selfishly I'm a little sad. (But also selfishly pretty excited to have somewhere to go visit in Florida!) Anyways..it was wonderful to have time to spend with them before they left. Especially cool to have the girls and Noah together in one place..he has cousins. That's so cool to me. I LOVE my cousins..and now Noah has them. Weird.

I'm super excited because I get to go back next week too, although not super excited for the reason since my sweet Nana has to have her knee replaced. But it will be great for Noah to get time with family again!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week!

All the cousins at Easter.
Sweet husband.
This is absolutely my favorite picture of the week. Luke is an awesome uncle! Set this up for Anna to find an egg.
Aunt Vic, Grandma, and Noah
Aunt Jo and me
Carl and Rosemary
Mom and Sarah
Brad and his adorable cousins
We went to have Noah meet Grandma Jean in Columbus.
Four generations together.
Oh Noah thinks Uncle Luke is funny!
:) Perfect.
Adorable! :)
Sisters and cousins! :)
Noah loving time with Nana and Papa

It was perfect! Have a great day! Next up...Noah meeting friends!

Sweet Victory!

A blog about our fantastic trip up to Indiana is coming.

But now..I just have to say I am so excited!

I have been deep cleaning our house all day! Sweet Noah has been napping well..and in between my work times we have gotten lots of snuggle time. So all in all an amazing day!

I realize this is not exactly blog worthy. But I really enjoy deep cleaning days. I really enjoy looking at the house after it's finished and saying aahhhh. I feel like I can relax then.

These days haven't really happened in the last two months...because I couldn't bear to tear myself away from our sweet boy. So that's the reason for the victory..Noah and I are totally getting into a rhythm and I love it! I really dig being at home with him...but I've struggled with the roles of wife, mother, and just Rachael. But in the last few weeks..we've really found our groove and I adore it. I think I'm finally figuring out how to be productive while making sure I'm getting plenty of time to just love on that sweet boy. I'm grateful for this! I'm especially grateful of the timing. I go back to work on Sunday. Just one day a week...but I've been dreading leaving Noah, and have been fearful of how I will add another role to my life...but I'm trusting that the Lord is going to get me through that. He hasn't left me yet, and I know that won't change.

So that's it for the day. Noah and I...we make one heck of a team.

P.S. Don't get me wrong...that Brad guy...he's a star player on our team too..he just happens to be out making the money for this little fam during the day :) We're thankful for that awesome man!