A Day full o' Love, Prayer & Blessings...

Man, I tell ya, I got the best o' friends!

My friend Amy, Mae as I like to call her had a prayer blessing for Anna and I on Saturday and what a precious time it was.

The sang me happy birthday over the yummiest of chocolate birthday cakes...

I got the most relaxing of prego-foot rubs from my pro-foot-massaging friend Mem...

Amy made a rad magnet board for decor in Anna's room...

My sweet Kellie shared a devotion straight from God's heart to mine. She didn't even know what a specific mouthpiece she would be used for that day, things God has been speaking to my heart just this week!
And then they circled around Anna and I and prayed their hearts out for us...The little miss inside usually runs away from hands trying to touch her (wonder if she's gonna be a shy girl like I used to be?) but she just danced around like crazy with the hands laid on her.

I read a quote the other day in a book that spoke about having my child dwell in the same place the Holy Spirit is! What a rad thought, I pray she comes to know Him so early since she's been able to spend so much up close and personal time with Him in there! What a humbling privilege it is to be a walking vessel of such a miracle!

Thanks ladies for the precious gift of your hearts, love and prayers! It was just what the doctor (or midwife) ordered!!!

Turnin' 30, Celebrating the Grand-Rents, and gettin' ready to be a Mama!

The big day came...and went. Don't really feel older, but did realize this only puts me a couple weeks out now, from meeting my wee one. WOW! Just a couple of big milestones in a couple of short weeks! Funny how quickly life can change, isn't it? (and now I am officially 6 weeks older than Will, and in my 30's, while he is still in his 20's...think I've heard about that a few times? ya, just a few) My mom and dad created a tropical oasis on their back deck with tiki torches and all, knowing that my dream was to be celebrating this bday on the Hawaiian islands. I think it was the gardenia in my hair that definitely topped it all off and helped me to enter into the tropical atmosphere with it's intoxicating scent. Mmmm, love that tropical flora!

So, as my parents were thinking they were having a birthday night for me, all along, I was planning a celebrate-the-grandparents night for them! We invited a slew of their friends over to shower them with love, grandparently wisdom and a new digital camera! There's never enough reasons to party down, ya know?!

They were each given crowns to waer wtih Proverbs 17:6 on it, reminding them that their little Anna that is about to arrive, is their CROWNING GLORY!

We are SO grateful for all the love AND baby goods that Grampa and Gramma have showered down on us, so it was time to return a little of the love. We love you guys!

Mothers and Daughters...

Thanks to one of the bloggers I enjoy (http://femina.reformedblogs.com/), I thought I'd post this little word she wrote on Mothers and Daughters... (seemed fitting for this season of my life)
"In all things related to our lives and duties, we are either building up or tearing down. None of us builds perfectly, even on our good days, but we want to be making visible progress, not always cleaning up after our mistakes. So I’m going to start posting a few suggestions on how mothers can build up their daughters. Today, part one.
Our daughters want to know who they are and what they are supposed to be doing as women, even when they are little. God has obviously designed us with a purpose, and He has kindly laid that out for us in His Word. And His Word reinforces what is built into our feminine natures by design. He created us. It makes sense that when we live in harmony with Him, we find joy and peace in who we are in Christ. We don’t have to flounder around guessing.
But the “worldly wise” refuse to acknowledge that our Creator, the One who made heaven and earth, knows what He is doing in creating us. They feel called upon to correct Him and to rectify His “errors” in creation. Plenty of voices compete for the microphone, insistent that we line up and follow them, living our lives their way. It’s truly comical to see bossy feminist women (for one example) shouting at Christian women, telling us what to do. “Don’t obey your husband, you idiot! Obey me!” Some throw complete tantrums over this, just like the two-year old in the candy aisle of the grocery store. Don’t they see how foolish they appear to the watching public? And they wonder why we don’t want to be like them?
So my point here is that mothers need to raise their daughters to unashamedly know who they are. This gives them a tremendous sense of security. What a blessing and a relief it is to know everything is not up for grabs. When my youngest was a little squirt, we had gone to the doctor for an ear infection or something. We saw one of the physicians we didn’t normally see, and we commented about some of the little drawings that were hanging in the room. The girl drawings were of little houses with smoke coming out the chimneys and flowers in the front yard; the boy drawings were of ships and airplanes, mostly with things shooting out from them. We had laughed at how easy it was to tell the difference. But the physician bristled a little and said something about how the poor kids had been “programmed” to do what was expected of them. How funny! Of course they had been programmed. By a wise and good God! After we got in the car, my daughter said, “She needs to have some kids.” This was not only funny, but very insightful!
Psalm 144:12 has a lovely metaphor for this: “…that our daughters may be as cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” A cornerstone is, among other things, a significant part of the structure. It bears much weight and has stature and standing. It is foundational. And this cornerstone is in a palace; it is fine polished marble. Women have much significance in the family, in the church, and in the culture. They have a profound role to play. So mothers, give your daughters a good job description. God certainly has."

Could I get a little more pink in my world?! I was just wondering.

Here's a few more of the pink beautifying action going on in the nursery.
I told my mom the other day we need to expand our horizons to a few more shades in the rainbow!
I've never been a pinky girl myself, so have therefore have NEVER been surrounded by so much in my life.
The raspberry and lime are definitely balancing it all out for me!
It's amazing how much stuff these wee ones come with, it's a whole package deal isn't it?!

My mama found the clothesline bedding set--LOVE IT! It has all different fibers for the embellishments on the set. And it's all one of our first agreements on decor style, I am for sure becoming my mother, ha!!

Gramma June also found this potting bench at a little boutique and then had the idea of converting it into the changing table and we then customized it a little more with some vinyl letters. Gramma's definitely been the mastermind behind the majority of this nursery. She even created that little circular scrap album for me to fill up (as she knows I'll never start one of my own. I'm all about the pre-made ones.) Thanks mama for all your hard work!!!

Garage sale find for the glider rocker and then my HANDY-man Will made me the ottoman, according to very picky specifications. Oh what patience he has with me! The pad on top was one of my first upholstery creations--thanks to my friend Vi, giving me refresher sewing courses and my new machine from my mom & Will for the big 3-0 bday!!!! What a blast it's been to be creating for my wee one. I'm lovin' these labors-o-love! (And...do you see that adorable pillow on the chair with Anna's name stitched onto it? That would be from my dear Amy, who labored over this pillow for our loved little Anna too.)

And the most labored and loved over project in the nursery, Gramma June's first gramma-sewing project for Anna. This little chenile, very detailed jacket was made for Anna's 1st winter (she even created and sewed the flower on the pocket!) Yes, my mama is amazing and deserves many props!!!

A little love for the Nursery...

It's not completely done yet, when it is I'll post more, but here's just a few for a taste of wee Anna's nursery...

Contented to be...

Parents, Stewards, Lovers, Caretakers, Nurturers, Guides, Holders, Guardians, Father, Mother, Mama, Daddy, Trainers of this Child. Thank you Lord for the privilege, honor and gift you have already bestowed upon us.

For the Sake of Special Requests...

I have been asked enough times for pics of "the belly".
So here she be, in all her glory!

Sister Kate & I!

Mama (Gramma) Kuitert!!

Just love this wee onesie! Will thinks she'll wear the "I Love Daddy" one more often though! We'll just have to see about that.

Only 7 more short weeks to meet this wee one (give or take a few, I've heard! ha!)

Who's she gonna look like????

Krystal?

Krystal's growing up pics

or Will?

Will's growing up pics

We're waiting for some younger ones of K and older ones of W, but you'll get the jist of us in our wee little bodies! Can't wait to see how our Anna turns out!

A little word about the mommyhood journey...

This is the raddest sermon done on pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood (never really heard one like it). It's from a church that my dear friend Serenity recently visited on their journey for Jesus across the nation. She suggested we check out their podcasts and there just "happened" to be one from their recent Mother's Day service done on mommies! It's some deep perspectives on God's perfect design of and the privilege of the high calling women have been given to carry, bear and raise children, as a part of His kingdom plan. Check it out if you have a few, it totally empowered me to continue perservering through this mommy journey I'm on! BTW...only 9 more weeks for us Irwin 3 to go!!!!!

"Pregnancy Conquerors"
http://www.jacobswellspokane.com/Site/Podcasts/Entries/2008/5/11_Jacobs_Well_5-11-08.html

*Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." -Luke 1:38

And they're off...

My Follow-Jesus-to-wherever-He-leads friends, the Coulombe's, are off on their nationwide venture to love on, feed and share the gospel with the poor and needy. Here are a couple of videos and their blogs to follow, and I'd love to ask for your prayers on their behalf for daily empowerment by the Spirit to live out all God asks them to do!

Videos:

http://www.vimeo.com/375668 (done about 7 months ago)

http://www.vimeo.com/1021615 (done about 1 month ago)

Blogs:

http://mustardseedministries.wordpress.com/ (the Mustard Seed group's blog)

http://www.downwardspiraling.blogspot.com/ (Andy & Seren's blog)

Proud Big Sis!

My lil (bigger) bro was down this weekend from Portland for the big Abby's golf tourney at the Roseburg Country Club. It's one of the largest invitational tournaments in Oregon w/336 players this year! Wowza! He showed up of course, as the stud he always is on the course, and ended up pulling off the 1st place in net score w/his partner! See the link to the article below, to view the scoring and info (he is THE Thys Kuitert written about!)...
http://www.nrtoday.com/article/20080616/SPORTS/974848107&parentprofile=search

Nice work Brother, all that hard work pays off doesn't it (even literally sometimes)?!?!

The man of the hour and his other fav sport!!!

Movin' on Up!!

(up north that is...to the land of Suther...Sutherlin, Oregon)
What, you just moved in?!!?!
Tis the question of the hour by most folks, but we are definitely at a place in time that it is appropriate to make the big move, AGAIN, Lord willing of course!
After moving in last June, and Will was hired on staff as Kid's Pastor at church, we quickly realized that the commute time and expense from Green to Sutherlin was going to be a bit of a strain on him, 6 days a week. Although, God has provided in big ways (energy, multiplied hours and funding) over the past year and we have never been lacking.
But, as baby Anna is approaching her arrival into the world, we both realize that the hours of the ministry (without the ability to pop in and out of the house for mealtimes on long days) are going to be a bit of stretch, as are the miles between Will and I, when that time arrives.
The biggest thing both of our hearts beat for in Kid's ministry at SFC, is to have the ability to be more involved and ingrained in the community we are serving in North Douglas County. For Will to be able to attend extracurricular activities of the kids, coach basketball as he's able, and just in general be available at the drop of a pin for the needs of the little (and big) sheep he is shepherding, is just not able to happen (with much ease) from 25 miles away.
So, all those things being laid on our hearts, and after much prayer and deliberation over the letting go of the "former things" we have been living in and loving down here in the Green district, we feel that God's hand is moving and guiding and we are willing (with our grief baggage packed along) to follow. I quickly learned when we were first moving into our "blood, sweat and tears" home (we did a sweat equity program for 1 year to get into this home, for those of you who don't know) that I had no rights to even claim that much glory or hold onto this home for myself. God soon converted my mind after move-in, that this is my "Giving-God-the-Glory-Home", and that I had no permission to claim it as my own or hold it as my own, as something I would never let go. I seem to have to learn that lesson with each "thing" He gives me, over and over. This one's been a rough one, after so much of our newly married life and love has been poured into it. It was my very first palette to work with for home decorating and I have relished in every moment of it, never to give a moment or paint splatter of it back! But as I'm daily reminded right now...
"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." -Job 1:21
So, all that being said...do you know a buyer?!??! Our home is listed with Joanne Graham with the Century 21/The Neil Company in Roseburg and here's the web listing...
http://www.neilco.com/MLS/Property_Details.php?LISTING_ID=8051464&table=residential
You can see the listing for more info or pass along this info to anyone else you might know that could possibly be looking in the Green area.

'Till then, we sit and wait and pray for God to make the big move for us (we know it's going to have to be a God-thing in this market!) And then when it does, Will has so graciously agreed to have moving and painting crews for me, as I don't have much to offer him these days being prego or having a new babe if we end up selling in the fall. I've got such a good man!
The waiting game of life, isn't that what it's always about anyways? :)

Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

-Psalm 27:14

Anna?? Malia??

So where did these names come from, you might ask? Because many others are asking, I thought I'd post away on it!
Will's grandma Susie (Anna's great-grandma) has lived out before us a beautiful picture of Anna, the prophetess in the New Testament...
"Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about 84 years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem." -Luke 2:36-38
Our grandma Susie has been a widow, lover, follower and minister of Jesus Christ and His gospel for many long years. (And what a special gift it was to her to be able to be here when we found out what baby Anna was!) This was a picture of grandma Susie and a name that God laid on my heart for a girl before we even knew we were pregnant, so we pray that this wee little package from Him will grow to love and serve and follow at an early age, just like her namesakes. "Anna" actually means "favored by God or gracious" and we already believe she is a gracious and favored gift from above! Another cool part too, that we just found out this weekend, is that 2 different grandmas on Will's paternal side both had Ann or Anna in their names as well!
Malia is a different one, not one I would have expected Will would have been a fan off, since it was a little unique and didn't have a deep meaning or namesake that we could trace it back to (Will's major criteria for naming a child). I was in Polynesian dancing on and off from the age of 5-25 years old. So when I heard the name as we were discussing girl names, I decided that any girl-o-mine would have to have a little hula in her hips! "Malia" is a Hawaiian variant of the name "Mary" and has many meanings: perhaps, probably, bitter, wished for child and calm and peaceful waters. We'll probably stick w/one of the last 2, with so many options, one should have a right to choose, right?! The funniest part is...Will is just in love with this name and it is the main name that he communicates with, to his little princess. Gotta love it how God works both of our hearts to love and enjoy the names of the babes that He bestows into our care! He's just that concerned with those intimate details of life.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

-Proverbs 22:1

So, here's our little Anna Malia...

A proud Aunty!

Here she is in all her scuba-diving pug-glory...Lilly Kuitert!

The winner of the Pug Crawl Parade Costume Contest

in Portland, OR this past weekend!

All she had to do was just strut her little pug stuff on the cat, I mean dog-walk and there was no comparison between she and the other 60ish pugs in the contest!

Hooray Lilly and Sister Kate for being such a good pug-mama! Here's the article on the Oregon Human Society website on Lilly:
http://www.oregonhumane.org/pugcrawl/index.htm

IT'S A...

GIRL!!!!

Do we look excited or what?!?!?!

The only legal naked baby shots to be shown on the web!

Sucking her thumb already! Look at that little button nose, so precious! And amazing how much they can show us now on ultrasounds. I felt like we were being given this glimpse that only God should have (since He is the knitter of us, seeing us in the "unseen" parts of our mama's wombs.)

We love you Anna Malia...

We even had the beloved grandparents there (the Glazner's are Baby Anna's local Nana & Papa, my parents, Grampa & Gramma Kuitert were there & Will's parent's were there in spirit!) We feel so blessed to have the family that is around us, supporting, loving and praying for us! We couldn't do it without them!

A baby Irwin upate from what-to-expect...

"At 22 weeks, guess what? Your baby has finally broken the one-pound mark. How heavy is that? Hold a one-pound box of sugar in your hand the next time you're in the grocery story (and expect people to ask you why you're grinning from ear to ear). Is the box eight inches long? That's about the length your baby is too!
This week, your sweetie is making more sense of the world as he or she develops the sense of touch. In fact, your little one's grip is quite developed by now — and since there's nothing else to grab in utero, he or she may sometimes hold on tight to that umbilical cord (don't worry — it's tough enough to handle it). The sense of sight is also getting more developed. Your fetus can now perceive light and dark much better than before (even with those fused eyelids). But remember — unless you're shining a flashlight over your belly (which you can do, by the way), it'll be mostly dark for your baby inside that cozy womb of yours.
Moving up from the eyes, the eyelashes and eyebrows are well formed now — and even more hair is sprouting atop that cute little head. You'd be quite surprised, though, if you could see your little one up close and in color. Hair at this stage has no pigment, so it's bright white."

Can't wait to see this wee one in real life!! We're over halfway there, K & W

Wow! and then Hmmmmm, what do I do with this information....

Just something to educate ourselves on. Always like to know where the people informing me on the media are coming from (don't watch her too often, but she does have some good topics on her shows sometimes.) Definitely something to ponder and seek our Jesus about His opinion on these matters and belief systems that are blatantly spoken here...

Some family photos & a preacher in the house!!

Just wanted to pass along the link to my love's sermon from this last week at big church (what we refer to it as, since we usually work with the wee ones)...

http://www.oursfc.org/Sermon/index.php

(click on the MP3 link next to Will's name and "Wholly Holy" from 4/13/08 and it will pop up for you to listen to on your media player)

God is doing awesome works in and thru my Will and I love to shout it from the housetop, giving Him all the glory!!!

"Let everyone in the world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him." -Psalm 33:8

And by request of a few, a few family pics of the ever-blossoming family and belly-o-mine...

Can you tell how much he already loves this wee one?! "And the glory of children is their father." -Proverbs 17:6

Hillarious stuff!

Get a good laugh out of this...(thanks Kris!)