About two months before Mark and I got married, we decided to buy a house.  Not just any house, though.  It was my parent's house and we decided, in all our infinite premarital wisdom, to gut and remodel the house.

Did I mention the wedding?
And did I mention that we were living in the house at the time of the remodel.

It was awesome and, three years later, the house is totally finished.

Actually, that's a lie.  It is NOT awesome to live in a construction zone and we are far from finished.

When I found out I was pregnant, I knew that we would have to devote our attention to the third bedroom to get it ready for the baby.  Right now, it's a TV room/make-up room/catch-all for things that don't otherwise have a home.

It's also the room that was my bedroom when I was in high school.  My graduation tassel still hangs proudly from the ceiling fan.

I started the arduous task of cleaning out the closet last weekend.  Amid the old plumbing fixtures, Christmas decorations, wedding gifts (yes, I said wedding gifts...shame on me) and outgrown clothes, I found treasures from my high school days.



I still love this quote...but for different reasons.
 
I am saying all of this because the person that I am today is so not that person anymore.  It's funny how life has a way of smoothing the edges, of refining, of teaching.  I don't see things in black-and-white anymore.  I understand that things are not always what they appear to be and that sometimes, there is a place for both conservatism and liberalism.
 
This also parallels with my recurring thoughts regarding this blog...this space where I write about things that I believe to be true.
 
I don't believe that I am the same person who started this blog in 2009.  I feel like I have been crushed and rebuilt.  My passions have changed.  My goals have changed. 
 
I am sure that being pregnant has something to do with these feelings.  But I also feel that growing and maturing plays a part as well.  
 
Oh, I still want everything I do to be for His glory.  But I am figuring out that it might not always look the way I imagined it.  I can take pictures for His glory; I can wash the dishes for His glory; I can parent for His glory.  
 
It's not all pomp and circumstance.  Sometimes it's quiet and unannounced.  But that's life, isn't it?
 
If you have read this blog from the beginning, maybe you already noticed the change.  And if you keep reading, you will probably see more and more changes in my thoughts.
 
Nothing drastic, mind you.  Just a different approach...and different perspective. 
 
Because in the end, He changes us every day.  We are the potter's clay and if we are living with His hands wrapped around us, then we are continually evolving.
 
I will leave you with another quote that I found on my list.  I am sure that I had no idea who she was when I orignally read this.  I am sure that, had I known, I would have kicked it to the curb.  But it just goes to show you God is over all even when you are trying to ignore Him. 
 

Oh!  Hi!  Remember me? 

I'm the girl that used to blog here pretty frequently. 

I didn't mean to take a month off.  It was never my plan.  Somehow between working full time and maintaining a household and being 5 months pregnant, my blog fell by the wayside. 

I haven't even been carrying my camera with me much.  Bummer :-(

But I plan on picking up right where I left off.

Because I blog for me.

And I snap pictures for me.

I refuse to let a silly little thing like exhaustion keep me from doing the things that I love.

So I have some news! 

I am 22 weeks pregnant and Monday we had THE BIG ULTRASOUND!!!  I have been dying to share this news with ya'll.  If you follow me on facebook, then you already know.

We are having a GIRL!!!!

Which is totally awesome except for the fact that I just knew this was a boy....so I bought *a few* blue things. 

Ok a lot.

But that's fine becuase now I get to start all over again and start buying the cute pink outfits and hair bows and shoes.  This is so much fun!!

We even started talking about baby names.  There are a few we love but nothing for sure yet.

Now that I know it's a girl, I am dying to go on Etsy and start buying.  But the truth is, I don't even know where to start.  I get overwhelmed when I go to  Etsy because there are so many great shops. 

If you have a favorite Etsy shop, PLEASE tell me about it.  I am looking for baby girl items...ALL OF THEM...hehe.

Wow...it feels good to be back.  I have really missed ya'll!!