Family
I’m Not the Best Mom After All
Maisie was an easy baby. Everyone would always say that Maisie was so sweet and easy going. I always assumed this was because Justin and I were so easy going (notice I didn’t say sweet). I thought that I was an amazing parent. I would say things like, “You don’t have to change your life just because you have a child!” And we sure didn’t. We still went to bars, stayed out till all hours of the night, Maisie took her little naps wherever we were, she stayed quiet during trips to the restaurant and even on 17 hour plane rides. She was a happy and content baby, even with her little permanent frown! Here’s a picture of her when she was just a couple months old! Then I had a rude awakening with my second child. As soon as his whole body was out of the womb, he screamed.…
Read MoreThe Birth Story of Matias Cutler Powell
I had been so worried that baby boy Powell would not come on his own and I would have to be induced again, just like I was with Maisie. I really wanted a homebirth and that wouldn’t be possible if I went over 42 weeks. At 41 weeks I went in for acupuncture. Let’s just say that was a bizarre feeling. Little needles in my hands, legs, feet and even my pinky toes! Then to the needles they hooked up little things that looked like jumper cables, which they ran some weird currents through. It was enough to make me sweat just sitting there. I went in for another treatment on December the 7th (almost 42 weeks) and was also prescribed and started on a homeopathic remedy to help me relax and not be so sad. That same night I had a couple REAL contractions. I had been getting used…
Read MoreGetting on with Life
I am so happy to finally be getting on with life. For some reason, while I am in transition, it feels like I am paralyzed and can’t possibly have a routine (not that I like them anyways) or meet new people or do anything really outside my comfort zone. It is almost like I just have to survive and for some reason, that is good enough for me. I’m not saying it is the right thing to do, but it is the way I naturally function. Now that we have arrived in Spain I feel like I can get on with life again. I have been so happy to meet new people and start making friends. Just today I visited with two different women that I met at the park Maisie was playing at. They happened to be “on holiday” and not living in Barcelona, but I chatted with them…
Read MoreMissing home and not even gone yet
I value honestly and authenticity and I know that can be dangerous, especially if I decide to be those things on my blog, but oh well, it’s who I am, so therefore, I have to be honest. I have to think that other people in ministry go through the same things as I do and so I will write about what I am dealing with these days. I’ve been REALLY struggling with the idea of going back to Europe this time. It isn’t that I don’t love Europe or don’t see the need to be in Europe or that I feel like God hasn’t done amazing things to get us to Europe. It is just that I am terribly afraid of loneliness in Europe. I am also feeling anxiety about having this baby in Europe (yes, I am 12 weeks pregnant!). Every time Justin and I (and Maisie too) have…
Read MoreGrandpa Ourada!
I have the best grandpa ever! I really do. My grandpa has always been the type of guy who would get on the ground with us kids and play with us. He was always so fun and would do crazy stuff, just to tease us. I remember a few different funny things in particular. One time my grandpa ate dog food, trying to talk me and my sister into eating it as well. It didn’t work. But seriously, he would eat anything (and still does as long as it is soft enough for him to gum it.. he refuses to wear his dentures). Anyways, he has just always been so fun and so sweet. Maisie and I took a trip to visit my grandma and grandpa yesterday and stayed the night. I wasn’t sure how Maisie would react to them as they are getting older and grandpa doesn’t wear his…
Read MoreStill here!
I’m still here! I know I haven’t been on the blog, but lots has been going on! I never seem to find the time to blog when I am with my family! Everything sort of gets forgotten when the important things are happening! So here is the latest of what’s been going on here! 1. I am obsessed with the Twilight book series. I know it is about vampires and I know it is technically for “young adults” but I like it anyways, even if the people in the book are still in high school. I love you Edward. 2. After we left southern California, we headed up to Northern California and nine of us (YES, NINE!!!) all stayed in my mom’s two bedroom home in the middle of the woods with only one car. That part was a bit difficult. I don’t like feeling trapped, but at least I…
Read MoreDisneyland, rain or shine!
This last Monday we all went to Disneyland for a day of Disney goodness! Amy and Jason’s good friend let us in for free!! YAY! We had been planning on going on Monday for a while. Even when we found out that a big storm was coming in on Monday, we still decided to keep with our plan! Amy and I went out and bought ridiculous “emergency ponchos” that looked like garbage bags with hoods. They were so fugs. But we ALL wore them. Green for the boys, red for the girls in honor of Christmas. For some reason, I didn’t get a picture though!! All the kids had so much fun! My niece Avery, who is five, LOVED the roller coasters and would laugh hysterically throughout the whole ride. Because of this, I would call shotgun on riding with her as much as possible. Maisie had fun as well,…
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