Stella gets her groove back...minus the Stella...........and the groove (according to Jon). But I STILL GOT IT!

I am FINALLY getting back to normal routines after welcoming our newest member of the family!  And one of those routines was blogging!  I was doing so well, and then I fell off the wagon for the past several months.  But, I have finally found made the time to get back to it.  So, the perfectionist in me is being silenced, while I try to briefly review all of the events and activities of the past four and a half months.  Bare with me, it might be rushed…but at least I’m getting back on track.

With so many events and activities occurring, I am just going to feature some of the highlights of the past few months:
MARCH

-GOD IS GOOD!!  Did we move?  No…after much prayer and thought, Jon and I realized that God was already answering our prayer in search for a place to live.  That place is our current home.  After sleepless nights, and a leap of faith – we came to the conclusion that the miraculous house that God so graciously provided for our family back on "8/8/08", as we refer to it, would be the place for us to stay.  In order for this to happen, my amazing hubby has started moonlighting (a.k.a.-working on his Saturdays off) to make ends meet.  I have been paying off debt, revamped our budget, and will be joyfully clipping coupons, making clothes, and saving wherever we can.  God has always been our faithful provider and has been with Jon and I through seasons of mac-n-cheese, and steak dinners.  I have no doubt that “He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” Phil. 1:6. God has provided his direction and solution to my desire and decision to stay home with my sweet babies! 

APRIL

-Ellie started walking!!!  She took her sweet time, but is now "wunning" as she calls it, and is now running circles around us by the way, but this was a momentous occasion! As my due date approached, Ellie was still crawling primarily, and I started thinking I would be carrying TWO babies around after I delivered.  But, Ellie made it happen in her own time-when she was ready.  Bring on the free spirit!
-Snow in April?  It was a little late, but we finally got our couple inches of snow for the year.  Ellie was a little weirded out by it, and refused to stand in it...she doesn't like being cold.
-Easter – I was ready to go with coordinated Easter outfits and all, and on Easter Sunday, we watched the sermon…from urgent care! Jon was at home with Ellie and I was terribly sick with a wicked cold/infection that gave me a rotten headache for almost a week!  So, I went to urgent care, while Jon and Ellie had church at home.  Then my family came over as planned for Easter lunch, and I at enjoyed taking some fun pics of Ellie in her Easter attire.  Plus, we got to see our dear friends, the Birklands’ before they prepared for a move to Nashville, TN.
MAY

 -Enjoyed a wonderful Mother's day with my little family, and ran errands in preparation for being homebound when Charlotte Grace arrived.

-I survived my last month of teaching before my labor countdown.

-Said goodbye to my classroom, my students, and the amazing staff of Smiley School Elementary! *sniff, sniff!

-Enjoyed TWO surprise baby showers – one at work, and one with my family.

-May 31^st – my due date – came and went…as we all knew it would.

JUNE

-Enjoyed a week of Mommy and Ellie time before the newest little Allen beauty arrived.

-Ellie started adjusting to being away from daycare and with mommy full time, and preparing for a new sister to share the spotlight with.  Let’s just say…she has my sassy passionate spirit for sure!

-Counted the days I was past due…one, two, three, four…

-Scheduled my induction, and went into labor ON MY OWN (around 5am)!  Such an answer to prayer!  But, I was still induced at 8:30am, on June 4^th. 

-We welcomed sweet, precious Charlotte Grace Allen, 8lbs. 5oz., 21.5” long, delivered at 10:12pm, June 4^th, 2011!!!
-I rejoiced at only 12 hours of labor, and 12 minutes of pushing!  (As opposed to 30 hrs labor/3 hrs pushing last time). Whoo!
-Sleep is angry at me, and all but disappears for weeks.

-Sam and Delilah (the pups) can't believe there's another little wookie to steal their attention, but manage to take a liking to her.

-I hang in there thanks to my amazing “honey, could you just do” husband, my house-cleaning/food preparing mom, and all of the fantastic friends and family who provided entertainment, food and company during our stay at the hospital and once we returned home with our little family.
-We celebrated Father's Day with my Dad and Jon, and then I recreated the holiday the following weekend, when I actually had the time and energy to put some thought into cooking breakfast for the amazing father of my children.  He deserves the moon!
-Jon attends his annual Ortho Dept. dinner and receives a 2^nd place award for his research project!! Whoo hoo hubs!

-I don’t remember anything that happened after that……….sleep, I just need a little sleep!

And that about brings us to…

JULY!!

-We started things off by celebrating a wonderful pre - 4^th of July celebration at Coronado Island on my Aunt Becky’s boat.  We drove down with the girls for a day trip to see my dad’s family and introduce Charlotte to the ocean.  Jon, the girls and I all realized our sea legs were a little wobbly, but we survived and thoroughly enjoyed such a relaxing day. My Dad’s family has always been great about planning an annual/bi-annual event to get together with everyone.  It’s really amazing to look back on all of our trips/vacations together and think of the wonderful memories.  It makes for a very close-knit family, and I hope to encourage my family to do the same as our kids grow up.

-Ellie started running!  Oh….Good…..Lord!  Thankfully, without a pregnant belly-I can sort of keep up.  She is loving her new found freedom and is a little more adventurous than I’d really like her to be. She’s also nailed singing her ABC’s song, boasting it at the top of her lungs whenever prompted. We are working on numbers, and colors still elude her-but she is amazing.  I just love watching her little brain work.  She’s such a sponge right now, and we’re enjoying teaching her new things. She is also VERY into pretend play and playing with her cousins and any little friends that come to visit.  

-Momma Lori and Grandma Charlotte came for a visit!  Last week, we were so blessed to spend time catching up on hugs and snuggles with Jon’s mom and Grandma Charlotte (our little one’s namesake).  Jon hadn’t seen his mom in a year and a half, nor his Grandma in several years, and it was so wonderful to have some time with them.  Jon’s Aunt Vicky was gracious enough to let us all hang out at their amazing house and pool, and we swam until our skin couldn’t get any prunier!  Ellie had a blast hanging out with her cousins, and has been speaking their names ever since…”Tobey..Lila…Bella…Tobeylila…Bellatobey”.  She is really starting to “play” with others and it’s so fun to watch.

-We dedicated Ellianah and Charlotte on Sunday, July 10^th at Redlands Packinghouse Church, with Pastor Ed Rea.

-Charlotte Grace (Charlie) is now 7 weeks, and growing like a weed!  She has been lifting her head to look around ever since she was born (no, seriously…at the hospital), and she just started making little noises and smiling.  I've caught her sleeping on her side twice now, and am thinking she'll be hurrying to crawl and walk to keep up with her busy sister!

-Ellianah Rose (Ellie) is 19 months, and also growing like a weed-both physically and mentally.  She is gaining new skills daily, if not hourly, and I find myself making mental notes just to keep Jon updated of the events and achievements of each day!

-Jon started his 4^th year of a 5-year Ortho Residency program.  He is praying about what God wants him to pursue as far as specialties go, and will be making that decision in the next couple of months.  If he pursues a fellowship…his Medical journey will involve 2 more years of residency and 1 year of a fellowship…and THEN he’ll be done…and then Christ will return. J  We joke, but have you SEEN what’s happening in the world lately?  Jon is also graciously working a side job as a physician, and mowing the lawn during any remaining free time...I know, I feel like a slave driver.

-This pic is of Jon being a goofball with his "loops" on, which are ridiculously expensive Surgery glasses that the Ortho dept. at Arrowhead Medical graciously picks up the tab for...thank you Arrowhead!
-I am still adjusting to having 2 under 2, but loving every almost every minute! We’ve had our challenges, but I am amazed that 7 weeks have already flown by.  I was just looking at Charlotte (Charlie) last night and noticed that she is no longer a newborn, and is looking more infant/babyish.  She’s growing up so fast.  I can’t believe how much faster the 2^nd time around seems.  I am amazed at how God has answered my heart’s desire to be at home with my girls, and by how much my hubby is sacrificing to make that dream a reality.  I am humbled by my mother and by all moms who have been through this before.  What an eye opening experience my journey as a mom has been.  I cannot believe the grace, patience, love and efficiency that my mom demonstrated each day as she raised us.  Being a parent is an amazing job, an unending task, a precious gift!  I am so humbled and grateful to be the mommy of Ellie Rose and Charlie Grace.

-School starts back up in another month, and I can already feel my spirit getting the routine butterflies as if I were starting another year.  About this time I would have started school supply shopping and lesson prepping.  But this year-I will not be doing those things-not for 5^th graders anyway.  I will instead be buying letter magnets, and large crayons, while planning toddler activities and play-dates.  AND I CAN’T WAIT!


-Until next time, and it will be MUCH sooner, I promise!
       XOXO, The Allens'

P-O-O-P-E-D

Hello all!  It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve been able to find the energy to blog.  This is reflective of the crazy schedule I’ve lived lately, as well as the welcoming of my good friend fatigue-as I’ve entered my 3^rd Trimester of pregnancy.  I am currently 29 weeks and feel great, but I feel pooped after simple everyday tasks, and this baby is MUCH lower, much sooner than Ellie was-so it’s become quite a challenge to sit on my booty in the computer chair for more than a few minutes at a time.

I know, excuses, excuses.

All that to say, I have so many things to blog about.  So, I hope to get to that now that I’ve been on spring break.

Soon enough…I will finish a post…I just know it!

A series of unfortunate events…

     The week was different.  I am exhausted physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I feel like I am fighting my own thoughts 24/7.  I can’t even escape them in my sleep.  In spite of my human weaknesses, I am trying to keep life in perspective and remember that some of the things that are taken up by my worry are not really that important.

     First up, my Ellie is sick again.  She has had one cold after another, after another!  Her left eardrum burst a couple of weeks ago, and just a mere 3 days after finishing her antibiotics-she developed a horrible cold that left us wondering what had happened to the healthy baby girl we once knew.  Thankfully, Jon was off and able to take her to get her healing ear checked out, along with everything else.  Turns out, her ear is healing great (praise God), but the other ear was bulging and red, and she has a lot of crackling and congestion in her lungs.  So, now she’s on Erythromycin for a week.  I am SO THANKFUL that she is getting what she needs to sleep and get well, but I’ve been feeling like the worst mommy ever.  Especially when all I hear is “she’s sick…again”.  They don’t mean anything by it, but I of course, feel horribly guilty that she has to be exposed to the germs from my teaching all day, her Daddy being at a hospital all day, and fulltime daycare.  This is just the way life is for now.  Many moms and dads deal with this kind of thing all the time.  But for some reason, it feels like a personal failure when my little one gets sick.  I know, I need to just get over it.  I just wish I could take her place and spare her the discomfort.  (Welcome to mommyhood, right).

     Secondly, the number 34. 

34 is the number of days that we have left before we are projected to move into a place to rent.  Our goal is to be moved by April 1^st so that we can get settled before baby girl #2 arrives at the end of May.  Oh-and we have no prospects in sight.  There are many amazing houses, but none of them have quite worked out.  I am having to let Jon handle it all because my nerves and blood pressure just can’t handle it, (I seem to be incapable of being rational and objective while pregnant).   Again, I know God is in control.  But, I am really struggling, more like wrestling with trusting God completely with this whole situation.  But-I’m slowly beating down the enemy.  I have been reading a “verse of the day” devotion and have found it amazingly applicable all week.  So while I feel like I’m failing miserably at trusting God, I also feel like I have stopped fighting, and am now just resting in God’s arms.  I have nothing left.  I give up the fight.  You win Lord.  I don’t know how to solve this problem.  “Wake me when we get there.” 

     Finally, the weirdest thing happened last night.  I was driving home from my school’s Science Fair, and I suddenly felt extremely compelled to pray for this family that I don’t know.  Let me back up.  Last weekend, we found the perfect house to rent.  It was everything we wanted, great size, the right price, pets allowed, and a fantastic location.  We had already turned in our application for a credit check, and were feeling “in” with the real estate rep of the property. 

     So, back to my strange discernment experience: Jon had shared with me that the property was available because the family living in the home was going through a divorce.  At first, I was sad – but my thoughts turned to other things.  But last night, I felt a very strong prompting from God to pray specifically for this family.  So, on my drive home, I began praying that God would restore this family, that he would encourage reconciliation between the couple, and would protect the children (if any) from emotional damage.  That this was even more important that the whole house thing.

     So I get home, catching up with Jon, and he gets an email from the real estate rep.  Turns out, the property is suddenly no longer available (Jon had just turned in our application hours earlier, mind you).  When he read further, he shared that the family currently renting the home had decided not to proceed with the divorce, and to reconcile, and thus-stay in the home.

   I almost started crying-reacting to the strange combo of emotions I was feeling from disappointment in losing such a great possible home, and elation in feeling like God had almost prepared me on the way home for the news we were to receive.  I also felt like, it the Heavenly realm, the fact that this couple was pursuing reconciliation was so much more significant and important than our renting that property.  It was really cool, and weird. 

     So, here we are again, back at square one.  There are times when I question myself.  When I question the decision that we’ve made to take the crazy leap of faith and move out of our house so that I can stay home with our kids.  And yet, I know without a doubt that I have made the best decision for my family.  God has confirmed this multiple times to me throughout the past couple of months.

     Last weekend, I felt like my trust in God was nothing but lip service, so I decided to write down my prayer of Thanksgiving.  Maybe speaking and proclaiming God’s truth every time will help to convince my head of what I already know in my heart.

     A few days later, I was listening to a song that spoke of how God uses our lives, our trials, and our experiences-to minister to others.  He is able to use his miraculous works in our lives to bring ultimate Glory to Himself!  So, here I am, in a place of humility sharing that even though I am scared, uncertain, and unknowing of how all things will work out for our family in the next 34 days-I am confident that God will not only answer our prayers, but use our circumstances to bring Glory to Himself.  So many times in Jon and my marriage, God has orchestrated circumstances that push us out the spotlight, so that all of the Glory can be His alone!  I know that God is doing this once more, so I gladly step aside, and say-To God be the Glory for the things He WILL do and has already done! 

Thank Heavens…for Little Girls

     Last Saturday, the weather was fantastic, and I got this sudden urge to get out after such a crazy couple of weeks, and felt that fresh air and a change of pace was just what we needed. So, we called up Jon’s brother and fam, and headed down to the Balboa Pier to walk around, enjoy the beach weather, cast a few lines off of the dock, and have dinner together.

     Upon arriving at the beach, we realized it was a little warmer than anticipated, and we’d dressed for “observing” more than “interacting” with the waves.  But, it was just too tempting to pass up.  Ellie, a fan of cold water and wet sand last summer-decided she was in the mood just yet.  So, most of the pics I snapped are of her sitting in her favorite place in the entire world-her Daddy’s arms.  She is such a Daddy’s girl, (yes, I'm battling envy).  I LOVE that she loves her Daddy so much.  It’s very sweet!

     So, thanks God for a beautiful day to change up our normal routine, enjoy your beautiful creation, get a little salt water and sand in our toes, and enjoy the importance of spending time with people we love.

     It may be awhile before we get to the beach again, but it was fun to feel the freshness and warmth of summer days a comin’-they’ll be here before we know it!

     Sidenote-I had to wear shoes and socks due to my bum toe (I was afraid of doing more damage), and I was taking pictures on the beach when a huge wave surprised me and soaked my pants, socks, and shoes up to my shins.  Unfortunately-I had to leave my socks and shoes on because I was afraid to take them off and try to put them back on again!  It was pretty funny...and surprisingly refreshing! :)

For God so LOVED the World-Happy Valentine's Day!

     Valentine’s Day is such a beautiful day to celebrate love and being loved.  Not just in the romantic sense, but in every sense of the word. I was researching the meaning of love, and stumbled upon a great article that referenced some key scriptures that God has used to show us how to love, and what love is really all about. 

     It stated “The Bible covers two types of love: agape and phileo. Agape love is represented by God's love for us.  The other kind of love, phileo, is considered "brotherly love."

     I was personally ministered to by these three verses, because I think they are a great reminder of how God loves his children (Agape), how we are to love God in return, and how we should love each other (Phileo).

     "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."

     "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27)

     "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

     One of the last passages of this article really got me.  It reminded me that I must choose to love my husband, my children, my friends, family, and even strangers-everyday.  I have to renew that desire and that purpose everyday.

     “But, above everything else that is demonstrated in God's Word, it's important to keep in mind that love/romance is an action. It's not passive, and it's not a feeling. It's a verb. It requires you to do something in order to bring it to pass. It also requires that you put the other person's wants and desires above your own. Whenever you need a reminder, go back and read 1 Corinthians 13. And remember, you don't have to do it alone. God's Spirit will work through you. All you have to do is ask.”

     I pray that I can show love to my friends, my family, my hubby and children, my colleagues and those I don’t know everyday.  It’s not always easy-but it IS a choice. Thankfully, as the passage mentions-I don’t have to do this all on my own (hallelujah).  God is the one who I must rely on daily, to provide me the desire and will to purposefully show love, and act in love to others.

I want to challenge myself to commit to that choice everyday.

     Happy Valentine’s Day!  Know that YOU are LOVED!

ESPN Alabama Roll Tide Commercial

So, Jon's Grandpa was a HUGE Alabama fan, as most Alabama fans are.  I have many friends who have attended both Auburn and Alabama, so I'm often caught in the middle. But-as a supporter of my hubby and his Papa, I'm a big Bama Fan, and I absolutely LOVE college football and this commercial!

Miss you Grandpa Bill! Roll Tide!

Sometimes, Life is just so "daily"...

The past 2 weeks have been a whirlwind!  I feel like I’ve experienced almost every emotion imaginable-but thankfully, God has brought me full circle, and back to a place of thanksgiving and joy in knowing that I can’t sweat the small stuff, and GOD IS IN CONTROL!  We’ve experienced some funny, scary, and frustrating moments that have kept me on my toes (all but one-I’ll explain later), up at night, and laughing until I cry just to get through at times.  But through it all-I have been reminded that life goes on, and things could always be worse.  Complaining is useless, and God is so faithful to meet our every need. 

Here are some of the things we’ve been through in the past 2 weeks: 

-Ellie was very sick due to a cold, teething, constipation, and an undiagnosed ear infection that caused a ruptured eardrum ALL AT ONCE.  She was such a trooper through it all, and I just can’t believe what a champ she was!  Thank God for antibiotics!

-My “I do” mom (married my Dad), while celebrating their 10 year anniversary tomorrow to my Dad (yay), has been counseling and supporting the emotional burden of her ex-husband's recent diagnosis of Stage 4 Melanoma cancer.

-Several homes we’ve called on to rent in April have echoed “no pets”...to our discouragement.

-I almost ripped off my toenail (not pretty and very annoying more than anything) being a klutz, and was forced to hobble, while pregnant, with a 14 month old. (Are you playing your tiny violin for me?) J

-Sophia, Ellie’s 7-month-old cousin in Idaho contracted a MRSA Staph infection and had to have surgery.  She’s recovering-but she’s still not out of the dark just yet.

-Our MAC desktop up and died for no reason…turns out he problem was an easy fix, and covered under the warranty-hallelujah!

-I am celebrating 25 weeks of pregnancy this Tuesday, a fabulous Valentine’s Day with my hubby, a healthy daughter, and the privilege of having a bed to sleep in, a home to live in, food on my table, and a car to drive!

Even though these past 2 weeks have been trying, I am reminded that my issues are so minor and insignificant at times when compared to what my friends, family and neighbors are all dealing with.

God did not promise of a life without trial and circumstance, but He did promise to walk the journey with us, to give us the tools needed to navigate through, and even keep us laughing in the midst of frustration. 

I am so thankful, so blessed and so humbled.