Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, Happy Valentine's Day to all. My poor Valentine is hiding in his room trying desperately to get better. I really really hope I don't get his illness. It just seems to be a really really bad chest cold, but as he almost never gets sick, it's kind of a concern about what it would do to someone with a normal immune system. :-) Somehow, I have escaped it so far.

On the House Hunting Front: We looked at another house on Friday, but no go. I'm going to send a realtor a list of houses we'd like to look at though, so hopefully we'll be looking at a few more this week. I found a house online that looks great and affordable, but the issue is that it's kind of in the country a little bit, and is north of Richmond, which puts TJ farther from work. All the other houses we've looked at have been in town. We'll just keep praying that God puts the right house in front of us and that we know it when we see it. And that we're patient until then. Which I think we're doing ok with. We both like our apartment enough to live here longer if we need to while we search for a house.

In other exciting news, Baby Keeling #2, Amos Keeling, made his appearance this week. We're taking them food tonight, and are really excited to meet him. I'm curious to see Siah with such a little baby. He's never been around one so new.

I think that's about it. I can't wait until I get my sewing machine, because today feels like a project kind of day. TJ's parents were so great and got me one for my birthday, but we haven't been able to find a day to meet up yet. It's probably best though, because I need to focus on cleaning my house. Maybe it's pregnancy, but my house never feels clean enough. Even when it is clean enough, I then think of the closet/cabinet/drawer organizing that needs to be done. That will be my favorite part of moving. Not only the organizing, but then getting into someplace with more storage space and a better system. Because stacks of boxes that get messed up every time you need something from one of them is making me crazy.

Off to clean!

House Hunting, Potty Training, and Attitude Shifts

Birthday week was really great, for several reasons. TJ and I celebrated early, but then he ended up getting the whole weekend off! It was so great to have him for 2 whole days (and I'm not being facetious!). We got to watch the Super Bowl with friends and some awesome local pizza, and Joe even rented Dance Central for me so I could play it this weekend. :-) I love it. On top of all that, we were approved for a mortgage and then looked at 3 houses on Thursday. None of them were winners, but it was great to finally get to look at actual houses instead of just looking online. By the way, pictures can be extremely deceiving. Holy cow. We got to look at another house yesterday that we both really like. There is some fixing up to be done, but nothing that seems urgent or immediate. It's a 3 bedroom with hardwood floors, kind of an older bungalow feel (which I LOVE) and a full, unfinished basement that we can work on to make into good living space. We'll see though. I guess for the loan we're looking at we need to make sure it would even pass inspection before we try to move forward too fast (there are potential moisture problems in the basement). But more than anything, it was just really nice to see a house that we liked after the first three striking out. I do have to remind myself that it's ok if this is a longer process than I'd like. I'm the girl who bought a car in one day right after TJ and I got married. And that did not turn out well.

Just for the record: Azteks suck. No thank you, Pontiac.

In mothering news, I found out this week that 2 of Josiah's friends can already recognize numbers they see or count to like, 20. Siah likes to count, he just likes to mix the numbers all up. And he couldn't read the numbers to you, he just knows they're numbers. Except 8. He really likes 8. SO, yesterday I started sitting down and making him count with me for a while and showing him this little flashcard book we have with numbers on it. I know I shouldn't worry about it, and by the time we have 3 kids I'll probably just depend on books and Sesame Street to help me out with the counting. Maybe when you're just working with the first one, you're more worried about what other kids their age are doing and making sure you're keeping up. But I'd like to see those other kids be able to point out all the components of a motorcycle. Which my son can do.

We're also continuing to work on potty training. It's going well, as long as I remember to make him go to the bathroom every 15-20 minutes. Sometimes he does great and lets me know when he needs to go, but we've gotten to the point where some of the fascination with the potty has worn off, and now he'd rather keep playing than stop to go. I think this whole experience is going to teach me more discipline as much as it teaches him to use the bathroom.

This Sunday Papa preached a great sermon about attitudes, and he said something like, "Everyone wants to feel important and special, and that's ok, but we need to work to have an attitude that puts others first, trying to make them feel important and special." Something like that. At least, that's what I got out of it. On New Year's Day I wrote in my journal that humility was a character trait I'd really like to grow in this year. Not the kind of humility that puts itself down, but the kind of humility that makes people walk away from you feeling special and cared about. A humility that doesn't wait for its turn to talk, but looks for ways to get to know the other person better and hear what they have to say. And I've noticed that I am in a much better mood (and therefore, everyone in my house is in a better mood) when I'm not focusing on my needs and getting mad at the person who isn't meeting them the way I want.

Well that's all I've got for today.

I love my husband. And he loves me.

Can I just start by saying that there are probably few things creepier in life than sitting downstairs by yourself late at night and hearing the training potty in the bathroom start singing for no reason? It's only supposed to sing when Siah uses it. And there have been several instances late at night when it just starts up for no reason. It's perfectly clean and dry - I have no idea what's triggering it. It's makes me feel like it's going to come to life and attacks us soon. Like Chucky. Which I've never seen, but he looks really scary.

It's Birthday Week!

TJ found out last week that he will most likely be working every single day for the month of February, so we celebrated my birthday last Sunday night. Somehow Richmond has managed to get a new, swanky restaurant called Hangers that is definitely for special occasions, and it is SO fun. I loved it so much. We got to sit by the fireplace and the atmosphere is super romantic with low lighting and candles. It was a great date. I couldn't decide what I wanted as a present for my birthday, and I've desperately been needing glasses, so we just decided that that could be my present. I'm usually not one for practical presents, but I really couldn't think of anything for TJ to get me. So I went to get my exam and pick out frames, and the whole thing ended up being way cheaper than we expected. You can say what you want about TJ's crappy work schedule, but they sure have blessed us with great health insurance. I feel like, "Sure Josiah, climb that tree. If you break your arm, we'll be ok." :-) Not really, but close. So anyway, we went out to eat and then stopped by Walmart to pick up some floor mats for my car when we wandered past the electronics section. As we walked past the Xbox stuff, and I mentioned that someday we should get a kinect, because I really would love that dance game that's on the commercials, and it would be a good workout. And my wonderful husband looked at me and said, "I'll get it for you right now for your birthday." And I almost cried. Unfortunately Walmart was out of all the versions of the kinect dance game, so I'll get it later, but we have been having so much fun with the new game. And it really is a total workout. I haven't really worked out since the beginning of my pregnancy, so just jumping and leaning and punching is a lot. :-) I can't wait to get the dance game though.

In other birthday news, my awesome mom brought me a cupcake from GiGi's to kick off brithday week yesterday. I am eating it a little at a time so it lasts. I love their giant cupakes. It made my night at lot better, as Josiah decided to regress in his potty training last night. I've been putting him in underwear at home in the hopes that he'll be more likely to want to use the potty if he doesn't have a diaper on. Last night he couldn't have cared less. I changed 4 pairs of underwear before I finally gave up and put him in a diaper. I was totally feeling like a failure. So the cupcake helped. But this morning, as of 10:30, I am happy to report that we have been awake for 2 1/2 hours with no accidents yet. Probably because I'm more focused on making him try more often, but whatever works. I'm going to be so glad when potty training is over.

Cherished - January

I've just started my first cup of coffee, so if this post lacks any pizazz, that's why. :-) But I wanted to get this post up while everything was fresh in my mind.

My lovely friend Diana and I went to the club last night for our January outreach. The gifts were really cute bags of manicure kits for the ladies and butterscotch haystacks for the guys who were working. There was a different color of nail polish in each bag, so the girls had fun looking through them and finding the color they liked best. The atmosphere in the club was a little weird. I didn't see "D" (the dj who has mentioned a desire to come to church) but the bartender was really chatty and nice. There were 2 new girls there: one who used to work there and is back now due to a recent divorce, and another who is working to save up money to move to another state. She seems to move around a lot, and used to work as a special-needs caretaker, but needed a break, as it was very draining. Both of the new girls were very sweet and talkative, and very grateful for the gifts. When I told the first girl that we just wanted them to know we loved them, she started to tear up and got up from her chair to give us a hug. One lady we saw was one we met for the first time last month, and just judging from the air about her, I'm starting to wonder if she isn't more of a house mom than a dancer. I saw her directing one of the dancers around, and for the past two months there has been no hanging out in the dressing room. All the girls are on the floor, waiting for customers or working. A house mom is usually an older woman who "takes care" of the dancers. I'm sure the responsiblities vary from club to club, but my understanding is that in most cases this lady makes sure there is a meal for the girls each night, provides help with hair/makeup/wardrobe as needed, and generally tries to keep moral up and make sure the girls put on a happy face and do their job well. The girls are (in my understanding, in almost all cases) required to pay her a portion of their tips each night. Anyway, this lady is polite, and will give us a hug, but remains a little stand-offish. Overall it was a good visit, just different. We were able to hang out for a while and talk to the new girls a little about themselves, and that was nice. There were more customers in the club than I've seen in a long time, if ever, so the girls kind of came and went as they approached a customer and came back to talk if he wasn't ready for anything yet. But whether a visit is super-encouraging or feels kind of so-so, we continue in the faith and knowledge that God has blessed us with the opportunity to do this ministry. We'll keep praying that the seeds we are able to plant grow into relationships and friendships outside of the club, and freedom for the women and men. Thank you all for your prayers!

I need a new profile picture.

Today I accidentally brushed my teeth with Buzz Lightyear toothpaste. Bubblegum toothpaste is not the worst way to start your day, my friends. But it does make me concerned about exactly how clean my teeth got.

So it's been big news here in town that this past Tuesday the three "massage parlors" got raided and at least 6 people were arrested for prostitution. The news report on one station reported a few men and women arrested for promoting prostitution, and the news last night on tv showed pictures of 6 women who were arrested for prostitution. It feels so strange to see their faces. I knew (everyone in town knew) what was going on in those places, and I tried to visit one of the parlors a couple of times with gifts, but they said no. A few friends and I resorted to simply praying. Do the words simply and praying even belong together? I think maybe I put them together out of ignorance and maybe doubt about how effective my prayers are. I need to have more faith that my prayers make a difference. Apparently the police had been conducting a 3 month undercover investigation, and then raided the places this week. I thought there were only 2 parlors, but there were definitely 3. So I've started praying for those women who worked in those places. Now they have to (first, get out of jail) find another job. I wonder if they have a community of friends and family, or if it is limited to the people they worked for/with. I'm praying God brings people into their lives to show them there's another way. Someone to tell them God loves them, and they have more worth than they think.

Tonight is our trip to the Manhattan Club, and I'm really looking forward to it. Every time I get butterflies in my stomach, but I can't wait to go. Please pray that we only say what God wants the girls to hear, that they would see Him and His love when we come to visit them for a little while. Please pray for wisdom and boldness when it comes to our conversations. I never want to hold back because of fear, but to have the wisdom to know when to be frank, and when to be more gentle. I'm really grateful to have the chance to be a part of a ministry like this. I don't know how long I'll get to do it, or be a part of it, but for however long we get to do it, I'm really really glad I did.

Please keep us in your prayers tonight.

"Lord, you are my light in the darkness. I carry you as a torch through the doors. I hold you out in front of me as I open my mouth. Your arms are my arms as I wrap them around bare bodies. These women are your brides-to-be. They are clothed in darkness, but I yearn to cover them in robes of rose-hued light. When I look into their eyes, glazed and distant, I search them for a glint of you. I want to imprint your image of woman onto their hearts so they understand mercy and grace. Lord, give me eyes that see and ears that hear your voice. Let my words be milk and honey to the wounds they bare nightly. Give me a picture of their innocence to wipe away the stains. Go to them Lord, woo them in the way they deserve. Reclaim these women, Father."

I wish I could take credit for writing this beautiful prayer, but it was shared with me by ladies from another ministry nearby. One of the volunteers with their ministry wrote this prayer and shared it with them. I think it's so perfect and expresses exactly how I feel about Cherished. This Thursday is our visit this month, and I'd love for anyone who reads this to keep the women and men we'll meet in your prayers.

Welcome to Crazytown

I know it's a little early to be saying this, but I'm ready for the excess estrogen to be out of my body. Not before Baby Ballet is ready, but for some reason, this week has felt like I have boarded the crazy hormone train and there's no stopping. I could imagine a bad Stephen King made-for-tv movie coming from this. Poor saps board a train thinking they're going to Cape Cod, and then experience mood swings to rival Sybil and her 13 personalities. People try to get off the train to no avail, and then attempt to stop the train, only to find everything malfunctioning and no stop in sight. The passengers begin killing each other off in angry rages until the train pulls into Cape Cod, empty. It's the Evil Train of Emotion. Kind of like a really bad version of Ron Burgandy's glass case of emotion.

My poor husband.

Tonight is going to be a good night and tomorrow will be a good day. I have a lot to happy about, and when my toddler makes me crazy, I will call someone and have a nice chat with another adult. It's all good.