We are one body of Christ

This past weekend, we celebrated Amy's baptism into the Catholic Church. It was a very emotional weekend for me, watching as my daughter was welcomed into her faith, and also knowing what a great responsibility her father and I have to bring her up faithfully according to the Word of God.

My brother David and George's and my close friend Dawn were there as Amy's God Parents. They are such wonderful examples of what it is to live and witness their faith. It is such an honor for us to have them be such a special part of her life!

My whole family: Amy's Pop-Pop, Grandma, Uncle David, Uncle Josh, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Sarah, and Great-Grandpa Wilson were all there to celebrate with us! My Grandpa Wilson, a deacon, came all the way from Phoenix to baptize Amy! It was so special...he also married us, so we are hopefully starting a tradition for our family! George's mom and dad, his Brown Grandparents, and his Uncle Wint, Aunt Julie, and cousin Hayley were there as well! I was so happy they were all able to be there with us to celebrate!

Janice and Gary had a beautiful lunch reception at their house after the baptism, and all in all it was a beautiful day!

We were so thankful to be able to spend the day with those we love most!

In A Nutshell...

There is a blog that I read daily, written by a mom, for other moms. It's her job, and she actually gets paid for it. I'm really glad that's not my job. I'd be broke.

I apologize for the lack of updates to this blog! It's not for lack of information, but lack of attention. But now, we've got plenty to post about!

As you can plainly guess, the rest of the pregnancy progressed, and the blood clot absorbed, and was gone at our 20 week appointment. We were so relieved and thankful to be past that bump in the road. We also, however, discovered an ovarian cyst at that appointment. There was some talk of surgery while pregnant, which really frightened George and I both, but in the end, my doctor decided it was a very stable cyst and we could remove it several weeks after the baby was born. I got monthly sonograms to check on the cyst, and to make sure it wasn't growing too large or affecting the baby's growth. Luckily, that also meant we got a lot of great pics of our girl!

In the end, after many months of waiting, a day of non-progressive labor, and a c-section, our daughter Amy Kathryn Brown made her debut on the evening of July 30. My doctor was there to do the surgery, which was a great relief to me, and George AND my mom got to be in the operating room with me (usually only one person gets to be in there)! My mom watched the whole surgery too! George watched the baby. Surgery is not his thing! ;) A great bonus to the c-section was that my doctor removed the cyst too, so I don't have to plan on another surgery.

Amy was so healthy and pink and 8lb 7 oz! Holy cow! She has reddish blonde hair, and the sweetest little face. Long fingers, and her daddy's feet. My dad declared that she looked just like me when I was born.

Since then (almost a month!!!) she has continued to grow well, and is already 10 & 1/2 lbs! She is very healthy, and cuter every day! It took me a while to recover, and to feel all those gushy feelings moms talk about, but now they are in full force and there are so many moments during the day when I look at her and tears well up in my eyes at the miracle she is, and how lucky we are to have her.

We are getting ready for her baptism next weekend, and our families and even some of George's extended family will be there to celebrate with us! I am so excited! Hopefully I will have it together enough to blog about it! But for now enjoy some pics of our beautiful girl!

Keeping the Faith

Shortly after my last post, we hit a bump in the road with the pregnancy. Around 9 weeks, I had had a bout of unexplained bleeding, which my doctor explained was common in 1 out of 5 pregnancies. Plus, he did an ultrasound, and the baby was fine. So since he was not particularly concerned about it, neither were we. But then, around 12 weeks, I had another bout of bleeding, and this time, my doctor ordered a more detailed ultrasound, and the sonographer found a subchorionic hematoma or, more simply, a blood clot that sits between the placenta and the uterus, essentially creating a small separation, which threatens the pregnancy. Many of these reabsornb into the uterine wall, but some bleed out and the pregnancy continues, or it creates a bigger separation, and there is a miscarriage. Most resolve in one way or another by 20 weeks.

This was, as expected, somewhat devastating news. There is nothing that can be done to prevent a miscarriage, and there are no statistics for outcome. We were told we simply had to wait and see.

It has been a HUGE test of faith. And, true to the nature of our good and just God, we have been able to maintain a sense of peace as we wait. Aside from the fears and uncertainties of that first day, we have both felt very at peace with all of this. I know that it can be from no other course besides the generous grace of God. It is not in my nature at all to be at peace. I am a worrier in most situations. :) But God has given us this gift, and we are relying on Him to watch over us and our little one.

Thankfully, I have not experienced any more symptoms since 12 weeks, and I am currently just 2 weeks short of the 20 week mark. At our last appointment, we heard the baby's strong heartbeat, and on the 11th, we will have our 20 week appointment, at which point we will know if the hematoma is gone, and also who we will be meeting in August! :) My doctor is very encouraged by the lack of symptoms, which gives us even more hope!

We will post again after the next appointment, and hopefully we will have wonderful news! Please pray for us, for this little life, and for God's will!

God Bless,

Emily and George

Updates!

It feels like forever since I managed to write on this blog...probably beause it has been almost 5 months! That is an eternity in blog time, but I am happy to say that there will be much more to write about from now on!

September

We went on our camping trip, and although it was only for a couple of days, it was a really wonderful time that the two of us spent together without any distractions. Working together setting up a tent in the dark, hiking, taking photos, going swimming at the beach, making food over a campfire...it was all fun! The weather was not too hot, but not too cold at night, and in general we had a blast!

At the end of Sepember, George volunteered to be a travel technician and spend two weeks in Minneapolis working for Brinks there. It was a very lonely time for me, but I got to visit Minneapolis during the weekend in between, and when I was home, Vera kept me company, and I spent a lot of time with Gary and Janice, which made me feel close to George even though he was away.

October

It was a difficult month for us. Partway through the month, I lost my job, which was difficult at first, but turned out to be a blessing for us, as I am now substitute teaching, which is a very good fit for me. Additionally, we rejoiced in the providence of Dave Ramsey's program (which we have followed for 2 years now) which had us prepared financially for several months if necessary. Fortunately, God led me to something just right for me in a very short time, and by mid-November, I was waiting for my sub certificate, the last step before beginning to substitute.

The last weekend in October, we had the privelege of attending the ordination of a longtime friend in South Bend. We got to stay with my Aunt Colleen and Uncle Paul, and see my Aunt Maureen as well. It was also the first time in almost a year that our whole family had been together. It was a wonderful weekend.

The weekend George came back from Minneapolis we also were surprised and overjoyed to find out that Marcie and Alejandro would be having another baby in June!

November

The biggest month of the year for us! God decided that the timing was right for our family to expand! The week before Thanksgiving, we found out that we were having a baby! It was such beautiful timing, too, because we were able to tell my parents, Josh, Mary, and Sarah in person that we were expecting when we visited them the next week for Thanksgving. George's family rejoiced as well, since next summer there will be two new grandchildren to join the Brown clan!

Thanksgiving was wonderful, and we enjoyed our first visit to South Carolina!

December

Another big month! We had our first sonograms, and celebrated Christmas with many of George's cousins and aunts and uncles, and his Laber grandparents! It was a wonderful holiday, and the next week, we rang in the new year with Gary, Janice, Marcie, Alejandro, and Luna.

And finally...January

So far, this has been a great month! I began subbing regularly (the couple of weeks before Christmas were filled with snow days, and not many teachers took off the other days prior to break). I also have just about reached the second trimester mark...just a few more days!

This past weekend, we had my cousin Andrew Wieber to visit for the weekend, which was wonderful and we showed him around Kansas City and just really enjoyed his company!

This coming weekend, I will begin rehearsing for La Traviata at the Lyric Opera, which we will perform in March, and the following weekend we will take a look at a house we may be able to rent in Lee's Summit, since we are planning on moving there when our lease is up in April.

So, there have been both endings and new beginnings in the last few months, and a big new adventure up ahead! Stay tuned, as the posting will definitely be more regular now!

As always, with much love,

Emily and George

Changes and Challenges

Hello all!

Well, its been a while, but its also been a pretty quiet month. Last August was not an easy one, so its been nice to have some uneventful time. To top it all off, we have been having unusually cool (low 80's) temps here for almost the entire month. Compared to last summers multiple 100+ days, it has been glorious. 

I (Emily) had my upper wisdom teeth out a couple of weeks ago, which are healing well, but there have been major secondary problems with my jaw muscles, having to do with a combination of things (surgery, too much jaw stress too soon after surgery, and nighttime clenching and grinding).  I am starting to get to the bottom of the pain, and working on techniques for relaxing those muscles so, God-willing, healing will not be far behind.  Please pray for me - that I will be able to have joy in the midst of suffering and remember that the Lord has given me a gift for the greater good of something or someone outside of myself.

I also took a risk yesterday and cut my hair very short.  While it may seem superficial, it was a great exercise in letting go of the things that hold me back.  I too often give into anxiety and uncertainty, instead of rejoicing at the bountiful gifts the Lord puts in our lives on a daily basis. And it felt good to let go! To try something new, and to dismiss the anxiety. It is a small surface thing, but if I can do those little things, I can go on to do bigger things!  

Of course, one thing I never have trouble taking joy in is our niece, Luna.  That little girl can make me smile through anything.  Children bring me joy no matter what they are doing.  For some reason, I am able to see the big picture, even in the midst of a temper tantrum or fussing.  These things in particular never give me much anxiety or worry (which isn't to say I haven't come to a point of exhaustion after a three hour crying session!).   And it is in those moments that I know without a moment's hesitation that God gave me such a beautiful gift in that.  I can never understand people who don't like children. I don't mean that in an impatient way, or a judging manner, but in that I simply cannot comprehend it. Much the way that I can't comprehend the awesomeness of God, I can't comprehend the very thought of not being joyful at the wonder of God's creation in a child. They are so miraculous. So filled with wonder, newness, abandon, joy.  And I've lost patience, been frustrated, sure.  But still the joy remains.  And I think, with great anticipation, of the time when I will be a mother, and I pray that my joy will be a thousand-fold. 

That got a lot more philosophical than I anticipated, but most of my blogs turn out that way, so why not? :)

George is good. He's technician of the month (AGAIN!) I think this is 6 or 7 for him.  I praise God that he blessed me with a man who works as hard and with as much integrity as my husband does.  

We are off to camp this weekend...hopefully we will have good weather for some hikes and some fun on the lake! 

Happy Labor Day!

Much love.

family

I can't help but be so grateful that God created the idea of the family.  On Friday, my mom, brother Josh, and sister Sarah, spent the whole day driving from South Carolina to spend a few days with us on their way up to Wyoming.  I was pretty excited to be able to spend some quality time with them. We didn't see much of the sights of Kansas City, opting instead to just spend time with one another.  And I thought how wonderful it is that we want to spend time with each other that way.  

I know families who don't get along, don't want to be with each other, don't celebrate with each other or share sorrows with one another.  And while seeing something like that makes me sad, I'm also grateful that my parents cultivated a sense of community among my siblings and I.  I can't imagine living a life without my family.  George's family is also very close, and I'm grateful to have that community here in KC.  I'm grateful that when George and I are blessed with children, they will witness and experience so much love and caring from our families.  They will know that they always have a place where they will be welcomed and loved, and that they will never be alone.  

 And I get to see them again next Wednesday, on the way back from Wyoming, this time with my dad and Mary.  Hopefully at Thanksgiving we will also have David with us!  Its amazing to see all of us kids choose our own paths, and venture out into the world, to grow and become the people God has designed us to be, and still want to be with each other! I miss my family often, but I also know that when George and I start our own family, I will know how to cultivate the kind of community that will both shelter them and encourage them as they grow!

How beautiful....is forgiveness

I (Emily) have thought a lot about forgiveness recently.  It is such a tremendous act that Jesus calls us to when he asks us to forgive.  It requires you to be truly selfless to really forgive, and in doing so, will bring you into closer communion with God.  That being said...it has also caused me to think about apologies. I read an article today in which a woman wondered why there weren't any sermons on apologizing.  And truthfully, I thought "Yeah, how come?"

But then I really started thinking. Apologies are not most valuable to us when we offer them, we value them more when someone gives them to us.  And while I do not profess to be any great scholar, it did occur to me that Jesus did not speak about how often people should apologize. Repentance, yes, but I'm not certain its the same as an apology.  Repentance can only be the result of a true willingness to examine ourselves and have remorse for our actions; to see the big picture and how we have affected others and our own souls. True repentance can't be faked.  Apologies on the other hand, can be insincere.  I have made apologies to end a fight, to get out of trouble, and because I knew I should, even though I didn't feel like it.

But then, just as I was getting bogged down in the "why can't so-and-so or what's-their-name ever apologize when they've wronged me?" I heard that little prompt (sidenote: how beautiful is that? that the Holy Spirit prompts us back toward God's path just when we need it?)  saying, "But isn't it greater to give than to receive?"  Right. Isn't it greater to give forgiveness than to receive an apology? That's a hard one.  We feel good, vindicated even, when someone apologizes to us; when others verbally acknowledge that they have wronged us.  I know I do.  I also find myself stewing over how I've been wronged, holding a grudge. 

 But is that how we serve each other? Not just spouses or friends...but all of humankind.  Jesus asks us to serve others. He doesn't specify whom.  And is there a better way to serve others than to truly let go of the things people have done to wrong us and forgive without an apology? Without repentance? I don't know, but when I consider it, even just open my heart a little bit to the possibility that forgiveness without apologies from another is better than an even exchange, I find it easier...and I know that God is flooding me with grace to let go of my bitterness. What a tremendous gift we've been given. The power to forgive selflessly; if we only ask for it.  How beautiful.