And he's back!

That's it! My boy is home, safe, tired and full of amazing stories! Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes while he was gone. We both appreciate it so much.

Silence was broken!

I got a phone call from Joe this past Friday morning!!! Yipppeee! It was for three minutes, but it was the most precious threee minutes ever. I also got a few emails from him over the weekend. He says he feels like he has been apart of a National Geographic program, or something we would watch on Discovery Channel. He has seen some crazy stuff like lions, cheetahs, and actual leporsy on the village people whom he has visited. Most of all he says that God is alive and well in Africa and it's so differendt from us belivers here in the States. I cannot wait to hear all of his stories and see the video footage he took (over 13 hours worth!)I mean the edited version of course-I don't want to watch 13 hours worth of coverage! But I won't have to wait much longer, he comes home to me on Wednesday.

I also got an email from my mom in Cambodia. Her trip is going great as well. They have had alot of success with the sweet girls over at The Rapha House. I can't wait to hear all about that trip too!

Silence

I have not heard a word from Joe since one week ago today...did you hear me one week without reading an email or hearing my boy's voice!!! Poor me...

I also haven't heard from my Mom yet while she is Camodia. On other trips that she has gone on I have gotten at least a few emails from her. I know her and her team are there and safe as I get updates from Kerry Decker. My sister also got a phone call from her the other day-who's her favorite now Kim!;) (that is a little family joke we have) Anyway, as I sit in self pity my prayer continues to be less selfish and to be reminded that these wonderful people in my life are not ignoring, or neglecting me on purpose. They are in crazy parts of the world ministering and loving on people who need to see Jesus through them, not to mention they are in parts of the world where getting to a computer or a phone is challenging at times.

Patience is not a strong point of mine...

They made it there!

OK, so this update is way over due but I thought I would let you know that Joe, Alan, Ben and Rob made it to Kenya and they made it safely! I have known this since Thursday, but I haven't been feeling very well and posting on my blog has taken the back burner. I have a yucky cold, it's that time of year again where we all get sick and I am! But yes, my Sweets is in Kenya, and safe...to my knowledge. I haven't heard from him since the last time I posted about them being in Paris, which is killing me. I really want just a one liner email telling me he is okay and that he loves me (even though I know that) so I am constantly checking my email and keeping my phone near by just in case. The reality is that is is really hard to get to the city and get to a computer. Now, I do have emergency contact numbers and email addresses, so it's not impossible, it's just for emergencies. So I wait...

Oh by the way, my mom and the team that went to Cambodia from my home church made it there and made it there safely. I am sure they are having so much fun and doing so many good things for those precious girls at The Rapha House (www.freedomforgirls.org)already. Praise God for these world travelers in my life who have a passion for those who are hurting and those who are lost, and who wish to bring the word of God to these people! I cannot wait to hear both my mom's and Joe's stories when they return.

Ahhhh Paris....

Well the boy and his boys made it to Paris...half way there to Kenya! They had a 14 hour lay over there. Rob Irvine, one of guys he was supposed to be traveling with, lost his passport somewhere between security in Atlanta and the train that takes you to the gate where you board the plane. This is particularly stinky because out of all four guys that were going Rob was the only one who has ever been to Paris (he has been many times) or who knows how to speak French! So, The guys were expecting to get a great tour of Paris in 14 hours from Rob. From what Joe says he loved Paris anyway. He said it was cold, but not rainy. It was everything he expected it to be, and can't wait to take me there (me either!!) He has "decided" he wants a SMART car (tiny European car) and wants to take up smoking. He is such a silly goof ball! Anywho, just wanted to let you know what was going on. Oh, and by the way someone found and turned Rob's passport into the airport and he leaves for Kenya tomorrow morning to meet up the the rest of the guys! Yay!!!

Sad...

As many of you know Joe was asked to go to Africa on a missions trip with our church, Cumberland Community Church, to tape and document the trip so that the congregation and others can see how Cumberland will be partnering with a church in Kenya and an awesome organization called the 410 Bridge. When he was asked to go he and I discussed him going knowing it would be a long trip, as I also discussed him going with on of our Pastor's Rob. I was fine with it (and let me just say I am truly fine with him going still) Although when it was first discussed it was months away from it happening and I was only a few months pregnant. Now that is here (he leaves tomorrow morning) I find myself very sad! I am now almost seven months pregnant and look at my belly like a millon times a day and have not only a constant reminder of my Sweets, but the fact that in fact I am pregnant. Where as when discussions were happening of him going to Africa I was not showing and there wasn't that constant reminder of husband...does this all make sense or is this clearly the ramblings of a hormonial pregnant lady?!!?! Not saying I don't think of Joe often through out my day, it just is different now being pregnant.

I think my sadness comes from selfish motives. I want him here with me. I want him to share the next 16 days of the pregnancy with me-I will look a lot bigger when he comes home, and I know he is very sad about missing almost 3 weeks of this pregnancy. But I also know that God has called him to go to Africa, and that Africa has always had a burden on my heart. It is our prayer and hope that Africa will be a place where our family can serve in the future and help spread Jesus' love to others who need to hear it so badly over there. So, I am excited that he gets to go, and I know he is covered in many prayers. I know that I am covered in many prayers while is is gone too. So, please join me in prayer for Joe, Alan, Rob and Ben as they are the team who is going Africa. Please pray that they will all be changed in ways that only our Lord can change us, and that all will come safely and healthy to their families.

I am very blessed because I have two great friends Mitzi and Katy who are planning on spending some of the nights with me. Also, many families from the church have invited me over to spend the night with them or to dinner! I also have many projects I can do to prep for the baby.

That's it for today...thanks for reading my emotional roller coaster!

Showered with love

First, I must start by saying I have the best family and friends EVER!! I got back from my trip to California Monday night, it was such a great visit. I had such a wonderful day with my Mom and Grandma on Friday, the day I flew into town, we took lunch to my sister (yummy In & Out) and then headed over to the nail shop and got our hands and toes done. Thanks Mom!! We then went to Trader Joe's and picked up some stuff for dinner that night. We made such a tasty meal...steak, homemade mac and cheese, fruit-you know the typical Taylor dinner! I got to meet my sister's boyfriend that night. Kim and Joel are so cute! He is a very very nice man and I am happy that my little sister is happy. You can tell they adore one another. Saturday, was the day of my baby shower and it was just perfect! I had such a wonderful day. Kim and Aunt Debbie did such a great job and I appreciated it so much. I got to see most all my close girlfriends, except for my friend Deborah in CO, but she is pregnant as well and has her hands full with two little boys. I got to see most of my family who I miss so very much. Like I said in the title of this entry, these people just showered me, Joe and our baby boy with so much love! I love you all and are so happy I was able to see you. Thank you for loving me and my baby. Sunday, I went to church and then out to lunch with my favorite girls, my cousins Amy, Taylor, and Sierra. We had fun and laughed so much like we always do. Then that evening me and my parents went over to Kim's boyfriend's home and I got to meet his two son's Kyle and Jake-cute kids!!! On Monday morning my mom and I met one of my bestest friend's Kyleen at IHOP and enjoyed breakfast before I headed to the airport. As you can tell it was a great weekend. I am so thankful for my family and friends and feel so blessed!

Sugar...ahhhh honey, honey...

Well, I got a discouraging call from my OB a few days ago. She says that my glucose test came back a little elevated. Now I have to go back in next Friday and have a more intense test done to make sure I do not have gestetional diabetes. I have to follow a "special" diet 3 days prior to the test which goes something like this: eat 3 big meals each day, and choose 4 sweet treats each day from a list they gave me (some items included 8-10 cookies, a can of soda, a big slice of cake, a PB&J sandwich, ect.) I have to to fast from midnight until noon the day of the test and sit at the doc's office for three hours so they can draw my blood every hour that I am there! YIKES! The doctor says it could be a fluke in the test and not to worry too much, but naturally I do worry. I worry about what that looks like for the rest of my pregnancy, and for my little boy. We will see what happens...

On a much "sweeter" note me and the sqoosh woosh are headed to California tomorrow morning!! I am sooooo excited! There are many fun things that are happening while I am there. First, I get to spend all day Friday with my mom-just us. We will be cooking for the family for that evenings dinner. Second, I get to meet Joel, my sister Kim's boyfriend!!! I am super excited about that because she is really serious about that boy and is in LOVE. As her big sis I have to see what he's all about ;-) I have heard nothig but great things about him, and I am eager to hang out with him. Third, my Aunt Debbie and sister are throwing me a baby shower!!! I am so happy I get to come back to Cali for that. I get to see alot of my family and all my good girlfriends, some of which I haven't seen since my wedding. It will be a great time and I am sooooo looking forward to it. I am only in California for a long weekend-just enough time to get used to their time zone and then leave. But I am not complaining because I miss everyone there so much and I am so thankful I get to come. Yay!!!