Betty Crocker I am NOT!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to cook! And I've been eagerly anticipating the day I could cook fun-themed treats with my kiddo (His picky tendencies are not working very well in my favor).
My adventure for today was super cute Jack-O-Lantern popcorn balls. It began several days ago in attempting to locate corn syrup, which they evidently do not sell here. "No problem," I thought. A little google and wallah - a recipe (it's basically sugar syrup).
Next we popped our own popcorn (this is very simple, but I felt quite accomplished). So far, so good.
Then the next step...was to make candy syrup to make the popcorn stick. This was not so simple, and it took FOREVER! I have a whole new appreciation for candy makers. After forty-five minutes of boiling a sugar mixture, food coloring, and several burned fingers (complete with blisters), we had some sticky candied popcorn!
The end result tasted yummy... the presentation needs a bit of work! And the clean up...let's just say I married an amazing man who diligently worked to chip away at some very hard candied pans so I could nurse my poor fingers (which will be recovering for the next few days) and saving our pans. But, we do have one very happy toddler! And we even thought we'd share with workers at the Kid's Club tonight.

A baby, Midwives, OB's, OH MY!

One of the first things I had to do in moving to the UK is figure out the healthcare system here and find a doctor, seeing as I was 25 weeks pregnant when we moved here. No big deal, right? Well, we have learned rather quickly that things work a bit differently here...

- We were taken to the local surgery. As we drove up to the small office, I was envisioning delivering our child in one of the tiny examining rooms with whatever general practitioner was available, right alongside any other minor surgeries they would encounter that day. We soon learned that a surgery was a doctor's clinic, NOT where they operate!
- Midwives - In the states whenever I mentioned midwives were frequently used here, people immediately asked if I was having a home birth. This is most certainly NOT the case, not that home births are bad, I'm just rather partial to hospitals and especially nurses to take care of my every need! Yes, I realize I am not very pioneering. I cried when we left the hospital with Tan Man because I loved my nurses so much. The midwives rotate on shifts at the hospital and doctor's office, so you see a lot of different ones, but then one will stay with you during the entire labor process. They call in an OB if there is any kind of concern
- C-sections vs. Natural deliveries - Thankfully, they are very favorable of natural births here in the UK. I had a c-section with our first, but they were very happy to let me try to have this one naturally if I chose, in fact they encourage it! They do however, make sure I am hooked to an IV, being monitored, and do not labor too long. And they sent me to the hospital to see the OB just to make sure.
- The Theater! We were ecstatic to learn that they have a theater in the maternity ward (John was especially happy about this!). I know all of you moms would have loved to be lulled by the Big Screen during labor - doesn't that sound posh! Our hopes were crushed, however, when we learned the theater was the name of the operating room! Darn! And I had been planning on what movies to watch!
- Epidurals - Now, just as a disclaimer, I went into my pregnancy with Tan Man saying I would take one if I needed it, but after 3 days of back labor, I walked in asking for one...this is my excuse for having an epidural (I'm sure it couldn't be that I'm a big baby!) The other part of this disclaimer is that I know some of you are amazing ladies and faced labor all on your own - you are my heroes! Well, here they are not big fans of the epidural. The first midwife's words were something like: "That is not natural labor. Lying down is the worst position and just not natural." I did have to bite my tongue to not ask, "And when have you been in labor?" (She hasn't had any kids yet, I checked) I wanted to say, that I rather enjoyed not having any pain, not knowing when contractions were coming, and lying down...somehow I didn't think it would go over so well, so I kept my mouth shut!
- Inducing - Um yeah...so they induce only when you are 15 days late (yes, I said 15!) In fact, when I met with the OB she told me my next appointment would be on Dec. 23 (My due date is the 15th) if I hadn't had the baby yet! I think I just kind of stared at her with my mouth slightly gaping! I'm all about going into labor naturally, I'm just really hoping this is before I'm two weeks late and into Christmas!

And this isn't even to mention all the different names (dummys, pushchairs, nappies, just to name a few) I have to say, after hearing about giving birth in the Philippines and in Korea, I'm thankful that these are the ones we've encountered, and none of them are bad! I'm still a little bummed about not getting to watch movies...

Facing the Giants (not the movie...)

Only a boy named David,
Only a ripping brook,
Only a boy named David,
But 5 little stones he took.
Who doesn't know this story? I mean who doesn't love the story of a little squirt going up against a huge giant with just 5 stones and a slingshot. Not to mention, he was willing when all the other Israelites, including their handsome, most macho man in the kingdom King Saul, were too scared to fight him. It's a story fit for Hollywood!
But after spending the last several days re-reading this timeless story, I was struck by all the discouragement David received. First his brother, Eliab, criticized his motives (1 Sam. 17:28), then King Saul was skeptical of his ability (vs. 33), finally Goliath belittled him (vs. 43-44). Not one person stated in the Bible cheered him on, applauded his bravery, or even offered word of encouragement. They thought he would fail. I would have walked home after the first comment, too ashamed I had made my brother upset and convinced I had misread my motives and had sinned. (I'm a people pleaser, can you tell?) If for some reason I had made it to Saul, I would have humbly agreed I was too inexperienced and left then.
But David's trust in the Lord was unwavering. He knew the criticizers were wrong. Listen to his statements:
"For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (vs. 26)
"He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine." (vs. 37)
"But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."

The other thing that struck me was David's concern not just for his country, or his brothers who were fighting, but for the name of the Lord. He couldn't bear for the name of God to be a reproach to God's enemies. He absolutely trusted and believed in the power, sovereignty, and greatness of the one and only living God that no one could taunt or dishonor. Do I love the name of the Lord that it grieves me to see it dishonored?

I wish I could say I was like David - full of faith, courage, and action. But, I'm quite honestly a lot like the rest of Israel. I become paralyzed by any kind of "giants." My "faith" becomes riddled with seeds of doubt. I wonder if God will come to my aid. I take any kind of discouragement to heart and lose perspective of what God can do, becoming fearful of what man thinks.

Thankfully, my God forgives my unbelief. He delights in using the small, the weak, the average. And He continually demonstrates His presence and power in my life. What about you? Do you take after David and crusade ahead full of faith in the Living God or do you tend to be found among the Israelites worried and scared that all is lost?

And one little stone went into the air
And the giant came tumbling down!

A Thankful Thursday

Yes, we are alive and so thankful! Since it's my first post back, I thought I'd just share a list of thanks! These are in no certain order!
I'm thankful for:
1. Internet! (You have no idea how disconnected we were feeling!)
2. A lovely house that was the perfect answer to prayer
3. Boxes being unpacked
4. A healthy pregnancy and little man growing(We meet him in 8 weeks! Yikes!)
5. Connections with friends and family in America
6. The Kid's clubs we get to be a part of each week!
7. Fall - leaves falling, chilly air, and pumpkins in the stores!
8. A working oven and pots/pans! (seriously, I've missed my friends! Let the baking/cooking begin!)
9. An exuberant toddler becoming more and more settled!
10. My husband working from home!
11. TV (I know this is carnal, but after months of not having one and enjoying that, it's been nice)
12. Charity shops with inexpensive furniture!

I know this seems like I've jumped forward a bit to Thanksgiving, but I just wanted to focus on some of the things these last couple of weeks has brought forth! What are you thankful for today?

Stop Looking at the Clock

I admit, I'm a time watcher...I know this is utterly American of me, but I'm constantly concerned about time, and usually not for good reasons. Is it time for lunch yet? nap time? bath time? bed time?
I was thinking about all the time I spend with Tanner wishing it away. This is true confessions, people! I love spending time with him, but it gets tiring, I get lazy or bored, or I just want "my" time. Some days I feel like all I say is "no" the entire day. As I realized how time conscience I was, I realized, I was going to wish away my precious boy's life by failing to stop and just enjoy him, focusing on the good and funny things these toddler days bring. I decided I needed to stop looking at my watch (maybe even not wear it!) and waiting for the next thing in our day, and enjoy each moment, because they truly are small gifts! Here are a few of my small gifts over the last couple of days!

Tanner LOVES TV (he takes after the Foster side on this one!) I had to smile yesterday when he was asking for "Bob" (a.k.a. "VeggieTales"), "Choo Choo" (a.k.a. Thomas the Tank Engine"), followed by "Pow" (a.k.a. "Cars"). He names his books similarly...no one else has any clue what he's talking about, but me!

Tanner's new favorite pastime is church. I have to admit, it sounds great for an MK to be asking to go to church every day, but in reality his idea of church is cookies, toys, and being made the center of attention by the people there.

And this morning, we awoke to Tanner saying, "A, A, Apple" - I know, he's a genius. He already knows the letter A's sound and an example! It was followed however, by "A, A, Car" - Well, we're working on it! He did tell me "M, M, Mommy!" today too, and what mom doesn't love that!

"This is the path

I have set before you..."

I've definitely been off the radar for a while. We do not have internet or phones yet, so right now our option is to go to the local coffee shop to check e-mail, and as you can well imagine, doing that with a toddler is not quite so fun...Thankfully, that should be changing soon as our bank accounts are set up and the UK government deems us not a threat to their country!
I have missed writing...so here's my thought for today!

"This is the path I have set before you."
How encouraging that God has set before us a path, not always easy or what we may have chosen left to ourselves, but one He has chosen for us for our good and His glory. He knows where it leads, the terrain, the twists and turns, all of it - and He chose it especially for you! It reminds me of my favorite Robert Frost poem (you probably know the one)..."Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference."

"Live first and foremost in My Presence. Gradually you will become more aware of Me than of people and places around you. This awareness will not detract from you relationships with others. Instead, it will increase your ability to give love and encouragement to them."

Sometimes I find myself looking for relationships to be my source of satisfaction. I look for people to give to me and hope that I can some how give back to them. The problem with that is I lose focus of God's Presence, which is NOT the path God has for me. In fact, it's been a good thing to have the Lord remove close relationships from my life for the time being so I can learn to live first and foremost in His Presence. It really is the only way to really love and give to people. It's also the path that God has chosen for each to KNOW HIM and the reality of His Presence in our everyday lives. Let that be our utmost priority today to first and foremost live in the Presence of God.