Had a big long post typed out, but decided to save it for later, because it would go so much better with pictures, and I don't know how to use copyrighted images online legally yet. So if anyone has information regarding using images for your blog, please let me know!

In other news, going home to Iowa and telling my mum about the baby was so fun! I gave her a picture frame that said "Grandchildren make life grand" and in the first two spaces were pictures of Shannon's kids, and in the third space was a scrapbooked card that read, "Coming soon, special delivery!" It's so funny because it took her a while to get it, and when she did, the reaction was quite humorous.

Another reason why it was so satisfying to surprise Mom, is because she NEVER gets surprised. She has a way of always knowing exactly what is going on, and it is very difficult to surprise her! The only other time I came close to genuinely surprising her was on her 50th birthday. I threw a party at church with a lot of family and friends, complete with decorations, a cake and tables set up to form the numbers "5" and "0". I made it all the way until the evening of the party, when she became suspicious that something was "going on". But I still count it as a surprise party.










Telling my friends was great fun as well. My original plan was to buy a t-shirt that said something about a baby, or being pregnant and wear it on the evening we all were going to get together and surprise them. The day of the get together I still didn't have anything, but stopped in a trusty old "Stuff" to see what I could find. Believe it or not, I found a shirt that said, "Due in December". I was so excited! So I wore it that night, disguised under a jacket and scarf, to hang out with the girls and used it to tell them the news.:)






Checking out the ultrasound pics






I'm so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!

Christmas this year will bring joy, peace, goodwill toward men, and some big changes in my life! Randy & I are expecting our first child in December. We are both thrilled.

As I stated in yesterday's post, today is a commemorative day because I have officially reached the 10-week mark, which makes me feel like I am 1/4 of the way done, even though I guess I'm technically not until the 10th week is over. Nevertheless, it is exciting.:)

I was always a little apprehensive that when the day came that I found out I was going to be a mom, I would freak out. Panic would slowly start to set in as I frantically reached the conclusion that I was NOT READY. I am relieved to say, that is not the case. God has seen to it in His many blessings that I feel ready. I am SO excited to be a mom. I have enjoyed life to the fullest so far, traveling the world and falling in love, but I am so ready to hold a precious little child in my arms and call him or her mine.

I wonder who he/she will look more like, me or Randy?




I'd love to launch into stories right about now, but my bed is calling. I've been lucky enough to escape morning sickness thus far, but certainly not FATIGUE. So more details later on the whole "telling the parents and friends" experience. Much laughter, a few shrieks and tears were involved. Moments I'll never forget.

Goodnight world, and goodnight little one.

I got barely any pictures at sister-in-law Stephanie's graduation, but here are a few...before the big day, we had to get pedicures, of course at the sweetest little spa. I believe I may have to visit there again!

Stephanie is a lovely young lady with loads of potential. She delivered a speech that was very thought out, and had lots of meaning. NOT a rambling long list of "people she'd like to thank for all the great memories, etc" which I appreciated.







I had to get a picture with precious Madison in the little outfit I bought for her.:)




Then of course we traveled home to Iowa for a BRIEF but delightful visit for my brother Shelby's graduation. I am so proud of Shelby and his class, and the impact they are leaving on that school. Such a great group of kids. Shelby is naturally outgoing and friendly, and has always tried to be including, rather than excluding. How he survived all four years of high school without ever being labeled as part of a "clique" I will never know, but it is a testimony to his character!

Younger people (as well as some older people) look up to him, and I am excited to see what plans God has for his life! He is so talented in so many areas, and has a heart for God, so I know he will lead a full life.

To be perfectly frank, I wish I were still in Iowa, and was very tempted to pout all day. But as my mom always taught me, it does no good at all to complain, and the only way to truly be happy is to be content in whatever circumstance you find yourself. So, I started today off with a walk with Randy, and had a long talk with a friend, and before long, my mood had drastically improved.
Now, 3 loads of laundry, 12 slightly burned poppy seed muffins, 1 tomato sandwich, and 1 nap later, I am winding down the day and trying to get this post finished.

Once again, I am HORRIBLE at remembering to take pictures, but here are a few from the trip:












I will be posting tomorrow, as tomorrow is a commemorative day.

Egogahan! (Until we meet again, in apache.)

Well folks, we're leaving today so this may be the last time I write for a while. I have been sorely slacking in my previous ambitions to post every day. Ha. I think I should set more feasible goals. Anyway, for those that don't know, we are traveling to my hometown of Kalona, Iowa for the prestigious occasion of a one Shelby Graber's high school graduation. Also to....catch up with family, play games, see friends, hug, share secrets, giggle, hopefully watch a recording of the Robin Hood production I missed, and many other delightful things. Who knows what the next few days will hold. I just know that I will be in Iowa, so it's good enough for me.

Not to mention the fact that I will get 5, delicious, work-free days to have my husband all to myself, while just enjoying ourselves and relaxing. This is my advice to all peoples who may find themselves living in a place other than the place they were born...any excuse you get to visit home, TAKE IT! It usually comes at a time when you need a vacation anyway, you just don't know it yet.:) And by the time the leaving date arrives, you find yourself greatly anticipating it, and wondering why you didn't do it sooner. Whereas if you had chosen to NOT go, you wouldn't even know what you were missing. Now wouldn't that be sad?
(There is one exception to this philosophy and that would be 4 or more children that make the cost of plane tickets a sizable sum!)

Anyway, I really should be making good use of my time today, so I will sign off. But not before some pictures of some of the lovely people I will be seeing soon....

So even though I'm not leaving for Iowa until next Wednesday evening, I am going to pack today.:) Partially because I am excited, but mostly because I am going to be pretty busy right up until we leave with a full weekend and working and such. I wonder if I will get it all done today or not. Packing has been a horrid nightmare for me ever since the airlines decided to charge for luggage. Gross. So the frugal side of me has decided I can only fly with carry-on. Which of course means I have to leave 75% of the things I'd like to take, home. Poo.

Yesterday there was quite the horrible man that came into the store. He asked if there was a bathroom and I replied, "Sorry, our bathroom is not open to the public." And he proceeded to spit and spew some of the foulest language I have ever heard, in his temper tantrum over not being able to use the bathroom. I was either too shocked to say anything, or it was my Mennonite non-resistance kicking in but I was left completely speechless as he went on and on, before storming out of the store. Grr. Of course now, a day after the fact, I can think of a list of things I'd like to say back to him, and it would've felt lovely and quite justified, but probably not very Christ-like, so perhaps it's all for the best that I didn't. Funny though, how it doesn't feel that way.

While I'm on the topic, I have been very frustrated lately with the whole theory of non-resistance, because I think it is very easy to sit here and claim our non-resistant beliefs while being so isolated from any actual contact or involvement with war. I mean, how many of us actually have to ever face persecution? Or go to bed with the fear that one of our children might be taken, or our wives ravaged?
I struggle with the fact that we claim we are part of a Heavenly kingdom (which is true) and that requires that we refrain participation in the protection of people in this earthly kingdom.
I think most Christians (or Mennonites for that matter) that you would ask, would say they can't help but feel that the people who brought down the terrorists and caused the plane to crash, preventing further thousands from losing their lives, did the right thing. However, if you LITERALLY translate our non-resistant beliefs, then if that plane had been full of Mennonites, no one would have lifted a finger. Am I wrong?
In discussing this with my husband and some other Smuckers the other day, I came to the conclusion that we, claiming to be non-resistant, are naive and hypocritical unless we first say that we are perfectly willing to be persecuted, both ourselves and our loved ones, and not do anything about it.

Feedback is welcome, I'm curious to see what the rest of you would have to say.

Time to post again...

I taught my last music class of the year today, and I have mixed feelings about that. The smallest, teensiest twinge of sadness, but a HEAP of relief. I am very ready to be done planning music lessons, trying to manage and control 15 rambunctious kids, and still come out feeling like I actually accomplished something other than being the "bad guy". In honor of it being our last music class, I asked them what were some of the things they learned. These were some of their answers:

"Funny songs!"
"Rhythm".
"How to use our articulators."
"That you can be really strict."
"That you don't know anything about music!"

That last comment of course was followed by fits of giggles, so I couldn't be sure if they really meant it, and I can only hope they didn't. But the one about being strict was definitely spot on, because I certainly became stricter as the year progressed, and I'm sure the kids noticed that. After all, if you remain a softy and try to teach, one of two things will happen. No one will learn anything, or you will go clinically insane. So....

I have a WHOLE, NEW-FOUND APPRECIATION AND RESPECT for my high school music teacher, Norma Miller. I'm sure she doesn't read this, but I must give a tribute to her anyway. I can only imagine the hours of effort, time and energy that went into helping us prepare for conventions, internationals, programs and performances. How she dealt with our shenanigans I may never fully understand, but somehow she put up with all of it, and did a wonderful job. I remember feeling like a real, honest-to-goodness singer in some of our large ensembles and choirs. I will never forget participating in our female only, small ensemble when we sang the "Halleluiah Chorus" at convention and snagged a command performance, back when those still meant something!
Mrs. Miller, your hard work will not be forgotten! I may not have appreciated it much when I was in school, but I most certainly appreciate it now! I am surprised music teachers haven't gone the way of the do-do bird, after seeing what their students can put them through. :)

I was going to take some pictures, but of course, I didn't get any. Thursday is the school graduation and we will sing a couple of songs in the program, so perhaps I will get a few pictures then.

And one last thing before I go...if you are still in school, go to class one day and treat your music teacher like a king/queen! Listen scrupulously to anything they tell you to do, and do it immediately with enthusiasm. Just do it for the shock factor. He/she will have no idea who kidnapped their students and replaced them with well-mannered gentlemen and ladies! You might even get them to faint.:)