I guess I'm catching up!

Geez. I'm sorry, everyone. I have totally neglected this blog for over a year! Crazy.

I still haven't started that choir. Mostly for a lack of voices! Where are all the singers in Lacey?!

Cadence is 14-months-old, now, and Arianne is 8. I can't believe I'm a mother of two. And still trying to figure out if I want 3!

What does a person blog about? I guess I could blog about my kids. I will have to do that at another time, but I did want to catch everyone up and let them know I'm still alive! :)

Hasta for now!

Baby Stevens' Gender

Chris and I went to the ultrasound appointment, today. We decided a long time ago that we wanted to find out the gender of our unborn baby, mostly to make shopping easier, but also the curiosity thing. Plus, his sister was DYING to know!

Anyway, the ultrasound technician was so sweet. She told us everything she was looking at, even when we were totally clueless about what we were seeing. She let us know how many pictures she was going to take and the whole deal.

The first thing we looked at was the baby's profile.



We then looked at the baby's face. It's a little creepy, but it's so skeletal just because there is very little fat on the baby, right now.


We looked at the head, next. Then she measured the head (numerous times)

After the head, we looked at the spine and stomach, the heart, kidneys, and some other things. Mostly to make sure placement is right and that everything is there.

Then we looked at the legs and feet. This is a foot.


Next were the arms and hands. Here is a hand (the thumb is up, the fingers spread out below it).


Lastly, we found out what we're having!

Because it's small, I'll tell you. It says, "I'm a GIRL!"

We're thinking of names, now. We've got Cadence, so far. I'll keep you updated!

It's been a while!

Hello, again, everyone!

I've decided to get off my duff and blog again. Just been busy doing everything but this!

So a quick update...

My parents came out in February and we spent a nice 3-day weekend with them. We even went to Ocean Shores (a first for most of us, I think!). Unfortunately, Chris had to work, so we decided we should go anyway.





Arianne is helping my dad "launch" the kite

Since then, we've been just kind of existing! We take walks as a family as often as possible. We're also in great anticipation of finding out about the baby's sex! (For those who don't know already, I'm pregnant. Expecting the baby around August 21)

Last Friday, Arianne's school hosted the Reptile Man. That was fun! We all went, and took the neighbor boy, too.









Then on Saturday, I took Arianne to a promo deal at Premier Martial Arts. She got to break a board! She was so proud of herself! She broke hers in three pieces, then had the instructors sign the pieces.









We don't have any big plans for the near future, but I'll try to keep up on this better! God bless you all!

Sorry so late!

Ah! It's been too long! I'm sorry to all of my followers. I haven't been too good at keeping up with this blog! Hopefully I'll get better!

This is gonna be short. We're pregnant! 9 weeks, today. I'm in the process of trying to get a doctor pinned down. Hmmm. Interesting problem. Most "family practitioners" don't do prenatal care. I really don't want to pay for a specialist, but I might have to go that route. GRRR!!! Or maybe I'll just call a couple of friends over when I think it's time, we can have some wine and just go for it! Kidding!

That's it for now. I will post again soon (with some pictures). Take care!

Snow Day

Woo-hoo! No school, and no daycare today! It's been snowing like crazy off and on all day! What a blast! I love snow, and it takes me back to winter in Montana.

We woke up to this, this morning.





I had to get pictures of the little bird prints.





Then I let the cat out! She's hilarious! The most snow we got last year was a little skiff, and she apparently didn't remember what it was like!






Then Arianne and I headed to Barnes & Noble for some Christmas shopping. We had to stop in Starbucks there and get a treat, first, of course!



The parking lot from the window

Arianne enjoying her treat!


And last, we played in the snow!

Changes for the better!

I have made a huge leap of faith today. Well, actually, I made the leap last week, I just took the final step today!

I have turned in my notice for my job with Bunce Rental.

The faith part has to do with money, of course. I am so excited about this change, but so scared at the same time. But somehow totally confident that God will work it all out. The job I'm taking is with my church and will pay me 1/3 of what I was making at Bunce. However, I will have NO gas to pay for, NO more commuting, and twice as much time with my child as I've had since I got my full-time job!





In some ways, making this decision was so hard, but on the other hand, it just brought me closer to God. I had to pray like I haven't prayed since my daughter was conceived. Plus, I had to LISTEN like I've never listened before! And I actually got it! I never "heard" God speak, but He definitely let me know what was going on! Man, I just LOVE GOD!

Ministries in all sizes

Sometimes I have to wonder...God, are you talking to me? Or am I just so passionate about something that I "make" you talk?

With that said, I'm going to try and go for it anyway! I know that music is not only a hobby for me, but a whole hearted passion. I have wanted to direct a young chorus since I was 20-years-old. "So what has that got to do with anything?" you say.

I want to start a church choir.

Before you groan, and hiss, listen up! It would be comprised of mostly "young" people (I am hoping for "kids" between 13-40), it would be audition only, and it would be SMALL! 8-12 people TOPS! That would put 3-4 people per part in a four part chorus.

Now, some might still be groaning. "Church choirs have to wear those dumb robes, and sing such boring music." HA! Have you got me wrong! I'm talking modern arrangements of old songs, new music, contemporary music...a capella music, barbershop style, old African spirituals (which are VERY fun to sing, by the way!). This would be something that, once heard, people would WANT to join!

This is my vision. I wanted to share. Now I have to talk to the folks who would make this possible (ie my pastor, elders, deacons, etc.). Pray!