Legacy

So yesterday I went to a funeral for a family friend. Her name was Polly and my family has lived across the street from her and her husband for almost 20 years. She had a long battle with pancreatic cancer that finally took her life.
Her funeral was so beautiful.. I love going to funerals where they speak about the person and you are sitting there thinking.... "This is all so legitimently true of how Polly was. no exaggerations, that really was how she was."
I would say the overall theme of the way people saw Polly was giving, selfless and thoughtful and I couldnt describe her better. She did all the little thoughtful acts that many of us often think about doing but dont get around to it. Polly always did them and this is how she showed her love and genuine care for others.
Polly was a Christian and had a genuine love for Jesus Christ. This was so evident in the person she was, in her battling her illness and eventually facing death and she still showed little fear. She had comfort and peace in knowing that she would soon be walking with her God Jesus Christ. That is so admirable to me. I am a Christian too and I have a relationship with Jesus Christ and I know that when I die I will go to spend forever with my GOd... but if I am being honest when you are truly facing death, your faith gets more real.. and the kind of faith you have been saying you have or trying to have your whole life comes face to face. heart to heart. It made me think how I would handle the reallity of facing death so closely and it also made me realize that in a way we face death everyday as we never know the number of the days of our lives.
Pastor Doug did a wonderful job leading the service. He talked about the reason that Polly was able to live life so full of grace and love is because she received it so often from spending time with her Lord. How you can't give something you havent been given. and Polly was able to give so much love and grace to people all throughout her life because she had received so much love and grace that it was overflowing out of her. THis really made me want to read my bible more and spend more time learning about Jesus. Who He was and how He loved because I so bad want to be the type of person that flows love and grace from who i am and I believe the only way to truly do that is to be overflowing with the love and grace from the Lord.
One other point that Pasor Doug talked about was the power of your mouth, your words. How the way we use our words should always build up others even those who are just listening to you. This is something I had been thinking about quite a bit even before the funeral and so it was really great to hear it again and hear it talked about in the scriptures. THe power of our words can build and encourage someone beyond our imaginations and can also beat someone down and hurt people so deeply. I think we often get caught up in saying negative things about people to others and think that since the person doesn't know we are talking about them that it is causing no harm.... but I believe it still is. Paul talks about in Ephesians that our words should build up all who listen as well.. SO all this to say that it was another reminder that I want to strive hard to be a person that builds up always and that we make a conscious effort to only speak words of kindness about others.. THis is something that is hard and I am not saying I succeed at it by many means but it has been on my heart for a while to not fall into negative talk and this service and memory of Polly spoke to me and reminded me of how important that is.
So we will all miss Polly so much but I think she lived a life well lived. A life to be proud of. I know it is my greatest desire that people leave my funeral wanting to be a better person and grow closer to God because of who I was and how I chose to live. I remember feeling this way remembering my grandma's funeral as well, and that is completely how I felt leaving Polly's funeral. That is leaving a legacy!
Love and Blessings!

Miracle Moments

So part of the reason I am blogging this stuff is for a journal for myself to write it down so I don't forget these moments later. So if it seems repetive or boring for you blog followers, that is why.

Last night Summer and I had some really special fun times hanging out.! We were getting ready for bed so I was just lying there and Dave was in the shower. Night time is really when Summer is really active. But wow last night was the most fun. It was the first time I saw her move in my stomach before I felt it with my hand. She was doing these big ole movements where my whole belly would move. I was laughing out loud at her and talking to her. Asking her what she was up to in there. It was like an arm here a knee there and and big kicks in between. This continued non stop for about 20 minutes. Then Dave got out of the shower and was able to see part of her little show. SHe had calmed down a bit by then but he still got to see some big belly movements.
It was so crazy just to think that this little person playing and moving inside me, would soon be our daughter in this world and that this little baby growing inside me will someday grow to be an adult who will do great things to make this world a better place. Needless to say I got all emotional with love, amazement and pride for my little daughter..
Mom.... I am really hoping she will do some dancing for you tonight at your birthday party!

Love to you all...
Jules

So Dave has been out of town fishing with his dad for the past 5 days in Cabo. I am so happy he got to go as these types of fishing trips is what he really loves. Unfortunetly they had some boat trouble and didnt have the best luck fishing but he still had a great time. but Wow did I miss him. I am so happy he is coming home tonight.
I wanted to especially write about this special moment I had the other night. SO I was lying in bed on Friday night and had just gotten off the phone with Dave. I was feeling kinda lonely and missing him and then baby Summer started really bouncing around in there. It felt like she was doing aerobics. I was just lying there enjoying my time with baby Summer and I just kinda had this special moment where I felt like it was just me and my little girl. I really didnt feel so lonely because I felt like i had my little princess there with me. It just made me so excited to really meet her.

Well our life is definetly packed with lots going on these days. We are still waiting to hear about our house but did hear from our realtor today who said that it is looking good and we should know something in the next week or so. so that is exciting!
Work is going good. Dave and I decided that I will try to go back and work part time next year after all. just with the new house and stuff it would be helpful and the more i think about it, and the more i talk to other new moms, I think I will really enjoy working part time. THe position that I am requesting would be only 2 days a week from about 8-2 or so and it would be the same classes of PE I am teaching now which I love so i am actually pretty happy about this. I think it will be nice to get out of the house and do something different a couple times a week. I talked to my principal and he said it looks like that part time position should work out for me but I wont know for sure for maybe a few weeks. My sister Karyn wiil be watching baby Summer one day a week for sure and we have not decided for sure for the second day yet but I am also so thankful my little girl will get to be with my big sister!
I am feeling really great. The second semester of my pregnancy has been a lot of fun! I have felt pretty normal again and we have been able to feel Summer move around in there a lot. THe other night it was crazy. She was moving so much it felt like she was doing jumping jacks in there. Dave and I were just giggling at her....it was fun. I am starting to get quite a bit bigger. I feel like my belly is growing more and more everyday. I have also noticed that I am slowing down a bit.. meaning it is getting a little harder to get up off the couch and stuff :) and have started to have a few cravings.... nothing too much but in and our burger has definetly been a favorite of mine! which is funny since i couldn't eat any meat the first 4 months of my pregnancy, but I am thoughoughly enjoying my new found appetite.
Other then that we have been trying to spend a lot of time with Grammy. Dave's grammy got diagnosed with cancer so the family moved her down here from New Jersey to spend more time with her and help her through all this. She is living with Dave's dad down in Corona Del Mar. She is doing ok. It kinda seems like so far it is just day by day. Some days she feels pretty good and some days really weak and tired. But we are thankful to be able to spend as much time with her as possible.
Dave is going to Cabo on a big fishing trip with his dad for a few days this month They are going to have so much fun. I am going to miss him a lot but am glad he gets this special time with his dad and they both Love fishing...
Well I guess that is it for now. We will update you soon with hopefully good news about our new home! Lots of Love and Blessings!

Valentines Weekend.

We have had a busy but excellent weekend so far and we still get tomorrow off so that is good. Dave went fishing with some really good friends on Saturday for just a day trip at Irvine Lake. ALthough they didn't have the best day fishing wise, he had a great time just hanging out with the boys. Then even though Dave was super tired from fishing he toughed it up to come with me to my cousin Sandy's anniversary party. It was a really nice time. It was great to see my family and cousins and for Dave to get to know some of them. He had only met most of them at the wedding which you know you dont really get to talk to people at your wedding so he really enjoyed himself last night. Then today on Valentines Day, we have had a really great day. We went to church this morning. which was awesome. just today I was thinking about how thankful I am for our church. We are going to EV Free now in Fullerton and I finally feel like we have found where we are supposed to be. We both just really like it there and we have started going to a Sunday School class with young families that is really neat. Everyone in the group is in similar stages of life and there are like 3 other couples who are expecting a baby within weeks of us! pretty cool.
Then I made a picnic lunch and we took it down to Little Corona Del Mar and had lunch on the beach. (we both hadnt been there since our wedding, so it was special). we just relaxed and it was such a nice day out. Then we just walked around a little by the beach and went to the Cannery later for a drink (non-alcoholic for me of course) and had a table by the window with the view and we saw 2 dolphins swimming around in the bay for like 10 minutess... They were so cute.
It was such a great way to spend the day together. We are really happy!
Everything else is going well.
We are still waiting to hear back from the bank to see if they accept your offer on house. (for any that do not know. we recently put an offer on a house in Placentia. we werent even really looking when this house popped up and we just really love it and the price was right so we made an offer. It is a short sale so our offer was presented to the bank and now we are waiting to hear from them. it can be anywhere from a week to over a month that we hear if we get it.. We are super excited though and are saying our prayers that it all works out the way God knows it is supposed to!
also I am feeling great! I am almost 23 weeks along. it is starting to really fly by. THe doctor says everything looks great and healthy so that is good. Little Summer is becoming quite the little mover these days. I can feel her multiple times a day now and Dave can fell her much more! I am loving being pregnant. This part is the most fun. no more sickness or tiredness and not too big and uncomfortable.
These are a few pics from our day at the beach.

Well I guess that is all for now.
We love you all very much!

Jules

A great weekend!!

this was a few weekends back but I was waiting to post another picture with it but I cant find it so here we go!
this is not baby Summer's room, just the furniture we bought from the catalog.
We had a great weekend. Friday night Dave took me on a special date to the Cannery where we had our little reception after our beach wedding. We had the best time. The food was amazing and it was really neat to be there to just sit and remember Our Wedding. We went outside to the patio where we had had our first dances from the Ipod and last minute brownie cake the restaurant made for us. We had wanted to go their for our one year Anniversary but I was still feeling really sick from my pregnancy at that time and couldn't eat much so we decided to wait. I am so glad we did because the food was so good!
Then Saturday we went shopping for our baby crib and furniture. Carol is so sweet and wanted to buy us the baby crib which was really great, so we all went to Babies R Us! We found one we really loved and then we also bought the matching furniture to go with it.. It is going to take a few weeks to come in but I can't wait to put it in Baby Summer's little room!
Saturday night we went to the Monster Truck Jam with some great friends and had a lot of fun, and Then Sunday we started back to our Sunday School class that we hadnt been to in a while and it was absolutely so great! The group of people is just really neat. It is mostly all young married couples with young children. It is soo funny there are 2 other girls in the class who are pregnant and one is due the day before me and the other the day after me :) so we are really excited to get connected with some of these couples.
Thanks for sharing in our lives! We love you all! Talk to you soon!

Our little Princess.

So. I am going to try to start updating our blog more often. THe key word is try :)
SO THe newest thing in our little life is that we found out we are having a little girl! We are so excited! The ultrasound was so neat. We got to see the babies hands and feet moving and the heartbeat and the little spine, You could also see some of the features of her face fairly clear which was neat. IT really was amazing! We absolutely love knowing what we are having. The anticipation, planning and shopping make it so much fun. Unless we change our mind last minute... Her name will be Summer Nicole. We just love it : ) I am currently a little over 20 weeks and I think I am starting to feel little Summer move around a little bit. I have only felt it a few times and it is kinda hard to tell at first because it doesn't feel like actual kicks yet but more like little popcorn popping or little bubbles in your stomach. but I am pretty sure it was her... This is such a cool thing!! I can't wait until i can feel her more and especially when Dave can feel her.
We are starting to think about decorating the nursery. I already picked out the bedding. IT is pink surfer theme. We are hoping to paint the room in the next few weeks. I think we are going to do it 2 shades or pink with the crown molding in the middle of the wall in white. I am having fun shopping and picking out decorations and stuff..

What else new is going on?

Dave is doing excellent at his job. He is really starting to feel comfortable and confident in his role as a manager. It has been great to watch him really step up to the challenge and he seems to really be enjoying it. He has been given this amazing opportunity to go fishing in Cabo with his dad in March for about 5 days or so. They will be flying down and then staying on the boat of one of his dad's friends. HE is SO excited and I am excited for him as I know this is one of those things he absolutely loves!

I will have the great blessing of staying home with our baby girl next year! I am so thankful for this. I have had such a great year teaching and with my students this year that i will be sad to leave but wouldn't want it any other way and know it is the best thing for us and our family.

We have decided to stay in our house for a while. We are still keeping our eyes open for an amazing deal but for the most part think it is better just to stay settled and see how things change next year with me not working and the different expenses that may arise and then look again in another year or so. I feel good and confident about this. We have been putting around our house adding little touches here and there and it feels like home.

Well I think that is it for now... Here are a few pictures of some things we bought for Summer the day we found out we were having a girl and her bedding!

Love you all