Still Waiting!

The summer season has officially begun in our city. The temperatures are still climbing, but lately we've been hitting 100 degrees Fahrenheit on a regular basis. So far it's been no worse than an Alabama summer, but we've also never experienced an Alabama summer without central air! As long as the power's on & the ceiling fans are running, all is well, but when the power is out (as it often is), the heat is no fun... especially for those of us that are just days from our due date!

That's right, our baby girl's due date is just four days away, but for the moment, she seems satisfied to stay exactly where she is.

This morning, I (B) was feeling so very ready for her to be here... tired of waddling... tired of being hot and huge (at the same time)... tired of sticking out like a sore thumb everywhere I go (being a foreigner is one thing... being a very pregnant foreigner is quite another!)... and just plain TIRED on top of everything else!

But as He always does, my loving Father was ready with the encouragement I needed.

I didn't really feel like getting out today, but this morning, I met a friend at a local coffee shop to discuss work anyway. As we were finishing up, another friend walked in. I assumed she must be meeting with my friend too, but I was wrong. The two of them had heard that my birthday was coming up this Monday and said that they were "kidnapping" me for a girls' lunch out!

We went to a wonderful Italian restaurant. It was such a treat to enjoy delicious food (that I didn't have to cook!) and the company of sweet friends. I came home encouraged and refreshed... and thankful to God for all the ways he cares for me, big and small.

The past couple of weeks of waiting have been filled with His encouragement in other ways too:

One day, M and I met up with our dear friend for a shaved ice. What a blessing she is to us!

The young man who delivers our water jugs always has a smile for us too. Too bad M couldn't tear himself away from his banana long enough to smile too! :)

I love having year-round ripe, cheap tomatoes! For about $2 (and after about 2.5 hours in a hot, hot kitchen), I had about 7 liters of homemade spaghetti sauce. The jarred kind is very expensive here, and we've grown to honestly prefer the from-scratch version! Though I will say that peeling & prepping 6 kg of fresh tomatoes is a tiring task. (K normally tackles that part!) But I am so thankful to now have several bags full in our freezer for using after our baby comes!

Speaking of good food, we have really enjoyed having our helpers cook for us about once a week. They are the best of cooks in my opinion! Today, we tried something new: puri, a deep-fried Indian unleavened bread. She rolled out small pieces of wheat flour (atta) dough & tossed them in hot oil. They then somehow inflate into the yummy, hollow creations you see below. M couldn't get enough!

We have also had the opportunity to spend time with family via the wonders of technology. One day this week, M talked to Pa and Nana all by himself for at least 20 minutes. I was getting breakfast ready but couldn't help but listen in. He is getting to be such a big boy and such a good conversationalist... when he's in the right mood, that is!

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been blessed with an abundance of fun mail and packages!

When my Grandmother's Valentines' Day card arrived (quite late!), M ran all by himself to the fridge and hung it up with his snowman magnets. 

There were two packages from Lystra B.C. in AL! Below are M and K opening the second one. M was especially excited about the bunny beanie baby named Ears and immediately hugged it. "Look, someone sent me this bunny!"

So many good treats!

We were also blessed by a sweet, girly package from GGMa! This baby girl is going to be a fashionable little thing! :)

Next was a package full of fun from K's Mom and Dad - Nana and Pa. Peeps for Me, Reese eggs for K, new books, movies, clothes, pjs & undies for M, and some really sweet things for baby S. But the biggest hit was probably M's cleaning stuff - a play bucket, dust pan, mop, broom, etc. He's been cleaning up a storm ever since!

Then this Friday, a knock at the door brought another box - this time from M's Uncle J & Aunt T. M was excited to find a super cute train engineer outfit, complete with hat, tools, walkie talkie, and more. Plus thoughtful gifts for every member of the family. Thank you both so much!

We are so grateful for our friends and family far and near. Thank you for being there for us and joining us on our journey. We love you, and look forward to sharing the news of our baby girl's arrival ... hopefully one day SOON!