The Strangest Interview EVER

My husband was without work for 2 years. It was a long 2 years full of downs and some ups. It was a 2-year testing of our faith with a lot of questioning. Because my husband is a pastor he went to a lot of interviews with churches--for anything from youth pastor jobs to senior pastor jobs. He also did countless interviews with secular jobs from Stanley Steemer (which we found out is 100% commission, who knew???) to working for phone companies. At the end of his job search process he was called to go to 2 interviews. One was for a youth pastor job in the town he had grown up in and the other was for the job he has now. The interviews were on the same weekend and we knew it was going to be nuts, but were also so excited about the possibilities!

He goes to the first interview on Friday night at the church in his hometown. (To protect the "innocent" I won't tell you what church or denomination it was, because let's face it, we hope this interview is not typical!) He arrives to the interview and sits down with the search committee--did I mention this is for a youth pastor position? He introduces himself and no one else introduces themselves. WHAT???? Straaaaaaaannnnnnnnge!!! He has no idea who the members of the committee are, their positions in the church, let alone their names! He is asked a list of questions, none of which has ANYTHING to do with his spiritual life, his stance on theology, or even if he IS a Christian. They were very surface questions. He asked them a few theological questions, but could tell they thought this odd. There was a youth member on the committee and her burning question was to know my husband's view of people having tattoos. Really??? This is what you're most concerned with? It was a really short interview, needless to say! He drives the 30 minute drive back to his dad's house and we wait.

I was on the computer and noticed that about 5 minutes (NOT kidding!) after David gets home we get a new email. It was from the church he had just had the interview with and they were offering him the job. WHAT???? Never mind this was the first encounter he'd had with the church--typically you meet with a church 2-3 times before a decision is made. He didn't get any opportunity to talk to the head pastor (whom he'd be working closely with), nor did he know where the church stood on different issues, what they were even looking for in a youth minister. The church had not even bothered to check his references!!!!! WHAT???? So much head-scratching ensued on our part! There are so many red flags here it's hard to list them all. The least of which being why on earth a church wouldn't check the references of a person about to be with the youth--not a good idea!

We tried hard not to panic. David would be getting paid hardly anything, with no benefits, which meant I would certainly HAVE to work outside the home. We had so many misgivings about this. Thankfully, I have a wise husband and he kindly replied to the pastor that we would have to talk and pray and we would let him know the following week. We went to bed almost begging the Lord that after 2 years of no job this was NOT the one, but also knowing we had to trust.

Thankfully, the interview the next day went MUCH better, no red flags and a HUGE green light from the Lord telling us this was the direction he had for us. But, the interview the evening prior will always be one that makes us chuckle...

What strange interviews have you had?

To My Little Girl

Your life, as you know it, is about to change.

You're about to become a BIG SISTER to a baby BROTHER!

You'll do GREAT! I have no doubt!

You'll show your baby brother everything there is to learn about this crazy world and teach him everything you know.

And you'll make Mommy and Daddy so proud! I can't wait to see you be a BIG SISTER!

Let the Waiting Begin

Today I am full term!!!! I'm 37 weeks now and that is what "they" consider full term, meaning it's perfectly OK and safe for the baby to come now! After all the scare of delivery too early I'm much relieved that this day has come. I keep telling myself that now that this time has come Baby Sprout will take his jolly time! :) At my appointment today it was found that I'm 1 1/2 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and the baby is at -1 with his head very securely down on the cervix! Things are happening!!!!

I have felt the insatiable need to "nest." What a strange instinct, huh? I mean really. I'm large, can hardly move around, can't really bend over and yet all I want to do is make the house spic-n-span and make sure everything is in it's place and that we're all set and ready to go. I mean, you'd think the baby would show up NOW at the rate I'm going. Maybe nesting is God's way of helping us fill our days of waiting. My guess is he knows how uncomfortable we are (I mean, he did design us to do this) and so he gives us the need to stay busy. It must look funny for a ginormous waddling woman as she scurries about the house doing this, that and the other. But, I don't care!!! I'm ready for this baby to come and the more active I am the more chance of starting labor and the sooner I get to meet this wee babe!

I'm cleaning, sorting, nagging my husband to get ridiculous chores done (it seems we can't get enough "trash" out of the house!) and all the while I just don't think anything is done! HA! HA! HA! After the baby comes I suppose I'll be too tired to do anything so maybe part of the nesting is a good thing so the house has a head start. My husband will be sure to let me know LATER (after the hormones calm down) how silly I was. I don't really care--this house needs help!!!!!

To Give Thanks

Sometimes it's hard to give thanks, and yet we're commanded to do so! Sometimes it's easier to stay in self pity and waller in the bad that's happening that you would just rather not give thanks. Sometimes you think God has given you all those lemons just to get in your paper cuts and the thought of using the lemons to make lemonade is ridiculous. I have to say that throughout this pregnancy I have succumbed to all of this--the bad, not the giving of thanks. However, I have been convicted as of late (and let's be honest the Holy Spirit has been pricking my conscious the whole time) that I just need to give thanks. I need to accept the lemons and make some lemonade out of them. I need to stop wallowing in self-pity and give thanks. And so, I want to give thanks in this blog entry. I have written a list of things that have come to mind for me to give thanks about. It's not exhaustive, but it's certainly what came immediately to mind.

1. Cora has been healthy most of this pregnancy, especially as of late with the onset of warmer weather.
2. Cora has been sleeping well at night and taking her naps which has allowed me full nights of sleep and rest in the afternoons.
3. I have had several friends helping me by taking Cora for several hours in the morning and feeding her lunch so that she's ready for her nap when she comes home, which allows more rest for me.
4. My husband. Oh my husband. I don't have enough words to say how thankful I am for him. I know he's busy with his own work and yet, without complaining, he has taken on extra chores--cooking, cleaning, taking care of Cora, Molly, the yard work, etc. He is carrying far more than his fair share right now, and I'm so thankful for him. And, he's doing all of this without getting good sleep due to all the pillows in the bed keeping me comfortable. He is a gem and I am truly, truly blessed that he's my husband.
5. My mom and mother-in-law have done more than they need to in helping us. My mom has been coming up 1 day a week for several weeks now helping me with whatever. My MIL has been coming up when she can, also doing whatever I need help with. This includes laundry, dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, grocery shopping, oh and entertaining Cora too!!! I am blessed to not only have a mom who loves me but also a MIL.
6. My dear sister has also been coming up when she can (she is busy getting her house ready to sell, has 3 kids of her own, trying to finish up home schooling for the year) and has been a ginormous help too. And, she's always a phone call away, reminding me that pregnancy doesn't last forever, this too shall pass and other such wonderful encouragements. I love my sister so very much and am so thankful for her and her encouragement.
7. My father has been spending his weekends between our house and my sister and BIL's house helping us all with projects. This means he is busy, busy, busy. And, he does it cheerfully, never complaining. I know my dad is exhausted and yet he willingly takes on these projects/challenges to help us out. We are greatly indebted to him.
8. Our church family has been so loving, caring, concerned, compassionate--quite frankly, it's overwhelming. My church attendance has not been too regular and they never make me feel guilty for it. They just want this baby to come so that I feel better. They have not once made me feel like a failure as a pastor's wife because I'm not dragging myself to church every Sunday--in fact there have been Sundays when I've been "scolded" for being there and told I should have stayed home. They are so excited when I'm there and are so very helpful to me with Cora while David is working. We are so blessed to be in this church, and I don't ever want to forget their love and concern for us during this time.
9. I am thankful to all those who have been praying for me during this difficult time. I learn all the time of more and more people who've been praying for me, and I had no idea. I feel so unworthy and yet am so thankful because without those prayers I would not be getting through this.
10. I'm so grateful for the excellent medical care I'm receiving during this pregnancy. It's been worlds better than last time, and I am just praising the Lord for bringing us to this point. I look forward to having a much better labor/delivery experience.
11. And, I'll end with saying how thankful I am to the Lord. For without his help, love, grace and mercy I could not do this. I'm so thankful for his faithfulness to me even on my worse days when I was angry at him for allowing me to feel so terrible. I'm glad our God has a thick skin!!

What are you thankful for today?

Let the Battle...End!

So, last year at this time we were trying to get Cora to love, like, tolerate, just simply look at grass without crying. It took most of the summer, but we were successful!!! I wasn't sure how she would be this summer. We've had a minor set back as so far she seems to only want to be in the grass if she has shoes on. Oh. Well. At least she's playing in it! Last summer she loved her pool and though she was barely 1 she loved to sit in the water and splash around! I was hopeful that this summer we wouldn't have any issues with the pool. Our neighbors have their kiddie pool out and have invited Cora over to play in it with their girls. The first day she was a bit timid when it was just Mommy and Daddy out there with her, but as soon as the other girls came out she was splishing and splashing and going down the wee slide in the pool! I was shocked, but so glad we overcame that little obstacle quick enough.

So, what do we seem to have to overcome this summer? It's almost as evil as the grass was last summer. This summer, it would seem Cora will ONLY wear shoes if she can also wear socks! This is causing me great frustration. I know it shouldn't, but it is--probably the pregnancy hormones! In any case, at the start of warmer weather I bought her 2 pairs of sandals at Target--one for daily wear and one for Sundays. She REFUSES, and I mean REFUSES to wear them unless she can also have socks on. It's as though I'm asking her to strap broken glass to her feet and walk 5 miles. Sigh...She is also very insistent that she wear her tennis shoes a lot, although she doesn't feel the need to always have socks on with those!

I am learning, with this child, to eat the words/thoughts/preconceived ideas I had pre-children. I no longer look at a toddler wearing a strange outfit, crazy hair or socks with sandals and think the mother is a nut job or that she just must not care. No, no, I'm sure she DOES care, and I'm sure there was some kind of battle at home before going out in public and the fairy dress, striped socks and tennis shoe outfit was decided not that big an issue. I'm learning that though I would LOVE for my daughter to have a cute hair-do to match her cute outfit and have her wearing the right sandals (without socks) before we leave the house, it's just not worth the battle and meltdown. I mean really, in the whole scheme of things is it really that big of a deal? At least I can be thankful I got clothes on her!

And so, this summer, let the sock battle commence, or end because really, I'm just too tired. We'll see how it ends. And, if you should see my daughter, or some other child, in 100 degree weather with socks and sandals on, don't judge the mother--there was already a battle fought and it's obvious who won!

Her Story

I've realized I never put to words the birth story of Cora on my blog. I had written it as a note on Facebook, but had never put it here. I wanted to put it in my blog because I feel it's important. I love my baby girl (who isn't at all a baby anymore) and I want to be able to remember that time. I have been thinking a lot about her birth as I prepare for her brother's birth. My biggest thought is, "Lord, let it be so much better please!" Anyway, here is the story of Cora as she entered the world 2 years ago!

*** 

The story of Cora Ann Hardin began Wednesday, March 25, 2009 when I went to the hospital to be induced at 6:00 p.m. David and I hunkered down for the evening hoping things would go quickly. Wow. It's a good thing we can't see the future because I think there is much we wouldn't do if we could.

My water broke at 3:30 a.m. on TH and the contractions pretty much started then. I called my sister to join us around 5 in the morning and well, it was rough going from there on out. As the day progressed so did my contractions. My doctor highly encouraged me to start taking pitocin so that my labor would progress better. I agreed and the drug was started--just a small dose. I did the hot tub, walking, the exercise ball--nothing seemed help, I remained 2 cm for HOURS. I was getting exhausted, I was weary, my spirits were very low. I had the wonderful help of my sister and husband, who stayed beside me the entire time. They encouraged me and helped me in ways I didn't know I would need.

At around 4 or 5 p.m. on TH I was done. I could not go on. We decided I should get an epidural. They called the person who was on call and she came up to give me the epidural. Talk about a horrifying experience. This woman didn't seem to know what she was doing. She stuck me over and over, time and again, used up 3 kits and only accomplished shooting electrical shocks down one of my legs and horrible back pain. My husband was at his wits' end, I was getting more and more discouraged and my sister wasn't sure what to do. I wanted to cry. How was I going to continue on? I had been in labor for 12 hours now and was still on y 2-3 cm dilated. I still had so far to go but my body was giving out. I talked to the Dr and literally asked him to just do a c-section--something I was trying to avoid like the plague, which he knew. C-section was not necessary he said. I was devastated. I had no idea how to continue. Shortly after this conversation my nurse came in the room saying they had called the head of the anestesisologist department to come in to give me an epidural. I was elated!!!!! What I didn't find out until later was he was coming from HOME. He wasn't on call, he wasn't scheduled to work, but he was coming anyway to do this for me. I did know what to do other than praise the Lord. The man came and I told him he had 1 shot. He was in and out in 10 min, I hardly felt a thing! I couldn't believe it. Oh the bliss, the heavenly bliss. It took about 10 min for the drug to get through my system and every contraction got less and less. I was able to rest, to fall asleep and my body started to do it's thing.

I went from 2 cm to 7 cm in a matter of hours and from 8 cm to pushing in about an hour. It was time to finally finish the process. I was scared, not knowing what the pushing was going to be like, but knew I had no choice so just went headlong into it. I pushed for about 45 min and after using the vacuum, receiving an episiotomy and using the forceps Cora was born. I can't describe to you the physical feeling of pushing a head, then shoulders and then the body out of yourself but it was the strangest and most wonderful feeling all at the same time. I don't remember this, but apparently as soon as she came out I said with great force, "I want to see her!" :) I had to see for myself that I had delivered this precious baby. And then, just as my sister told me, I was full of energy.

David and I finally got to sleep at about 4 a.m. today (Friday, March 27) and are exhausted. Apart from soreness from stitches and just simply pushing a baby out, I'm fine. David has taken over his role as daddy naturally--I never had a doubt. Cora is fine, she has passed all her vital tests, etc. She is nursing well and seems, so far, to be just a really complacent baby. Time will tell as far as that's concerned! :)

We get to go home tomorrow. We're so excited to take our baby girl home. She gets to meet her big "sister", Molly, the wonder dog! :) thank you for your prayers as we struggled through 21 hours of work, pain and elation. Be watching my profile for updated photos! :)

Some Photos

I just simply love my daughter.

Isn't she beautiful? She was actually saying, "No Momma!" to taking her photo. I think it was worth it though!

Always loving to play ball...

For some reason I love how her hair is flying in the wind while she's running. So care free! 

Is she trying to figure out how to escape? 

This one makes me laugh! I love the outfit and the sunglasses add so much!