We are DUE for an update!

Well, like I've said before, I haven't been the best at keeping up with this blog. I always think I'll have more interesting things to say once we have kids. And it looks like it won't be that much longer. Andrew and I are going to have a BABY!!!!!!! We are due December 9. Wow, it's so weird to even type that. I'm soooo excited but it's still sooo surreal. I cannot wait to meet our little guy or gal!!

This whole past year and a few months has been a difficult time. We really were desiring to start a family and as soon as we wanted to start "trying," my body just stopped doing the normal functions it needs to do in order to get pregnant. I'll try to not to go into too many details. Month after month, I started to get frustrated. As people all around me were getting pregnant, I kept wondering why we couldnt and what was wrong with me. Why was I not "normal"? During these months and months, the Lord was really teaching me that it was Him who was in control....not me. I always just assumed that I would get pregnant right away because I thought it was completely up to us. Again the Lord showed me how I was wrong in this area. We just kept praying and praying and I know that so many faithful others were praying for us as well. I had picked up a prescription for a fertility drug and was waiting for my next cycle to begin so I could start this medicine. When my cycle didn't start, I really didnt think too much of it because that was pretty common for me. I had taken so many pregnancy tests the past year and they all had come back negative. But I figured I would take one any way just to make sure. So on April 1 (Fools Day...haha), I took a test and it came back positive. I must have stared at it for about 20 minutes. I just couldn't believe it. The Lord had answered our prayers!!!! I went up to the seminary and met Andrew for lunch so I could tell him the news. I just couldnt hold it in. He had the same reaction as me and just couldnt believe it. He said he couldnt focus at all during his next class.

The hard part over the next few weeks was keeping it quiet. We had so many people praying for us and they would occasionally ask how we were doing. My parents were coming in town the weekend of the 25th and I really wanted to wait to tell them in person. When we told my parents, they were sooo excited. My mom and I both cried. We told Andrew's family and then slowly began spreading the word. We had our first appointment on the 26th and got to see the baby on the ultrasound. We could see the little heart just beating away! That was amazing to see that. It was also very comforting for me since I had not felt very pregnant up until that point. We went again on May 18 and got to hear the heartbeat. Such a miraculous thing!!

Thank you to everyone who had been praying for us. We know that this pregnancy is truly a gift from the Lord. Here are the first pictures of Baby Nordine:

October-December (A Really Long Post)

Well I guess I should actually update our blog. It's been a few months!! Where do I begin?? We've done lots of traveling, and Andrew somehow found time to study amidst all the football watching. We took a crazy road trip to Florida in late September to watch our first game at the Swamp. We went with our friends, the Tillmans, and their two kiddos. It was a whirlwind trip but lots of fun! The next weekend we drove to Lexington to watch the Gators defeat KY. Andrew has really turned me into quite the football fan. I love watching the games with him!

I made a trip to Oklahoma in early October for a cousin's wedding. It was a great time with family. I treasure the sweet times with my grandparents and cousins! We celebrated lots of friends' birthdays throughout the month. My parents made a trip to Louisville the end of October. I was able to take my mom to an event at the school where I teach, and we made my parents watch a Gators game with us and the Tillmans.

I went on a women's retreat with our church the first weekend in November. We stayed at a wonderful cabin in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. It was a fun get-away with lots of great spiritual conversations.

For Thanksgiving, it was back down to Florida. We spent Thanksgiving with Andrew's family in Orlando. It had been a couple years since we were down there. Great food and great times! I was able to catch up with my dear friend Jensey and her husband Nate while we were down there. And we just couldn't go to Florida without going to a football game. :) Andrew and I were able to go to the Florida/Florida State game for Tim Tebow's last game at the Swamp. It was so much fun!

Then December came and things didn't slow down a bit. Our small group enjoyed Christmas dinner on December 3. We had wonderful food and fellowship. Our church Christmas party was the following week. My school wrapped up with a Christmas party on the 17. Then Andrew and I headed to Memphis to see my family. The highlight of the trip was meeting my new little nephew who was born Dec. 11. He is PRECIOUS! I got to spend hours holding him and loving on him. I also enjoyed seeing my other nephew Wilson. He's at such a fun age and was really into everything. My niece Emmye is growing up too fast!

On Christmas Eve, we drove to Atlanta to spend time with Andrew's family. We had a nice, relaxing time there. We enjoyed Christmas Eve service at their church. On Christmas day, we had the opportunity to serve dinner at a homeless shelter. Then it was back to Louisville.

Andrew and I celebrated three years of marriage on Dec. 30! Man, time flies. We went to an '80's themed New Year's Eve party at a friend's house. It was rad! We watched Florida win the Sugar Bowl. I started school up again on January 5. We just had our first big snow of the season. The ground is covered. It's so pretty to look at, but I really don't enjoy driving in it. Well I think that about covers it. There's lots of pictures below.

Our first game at The Swamp

At the Florida/Kentucky game

Giant Pouncey Twins (offensive linemen)

In Oklahoma for a wedding

My parents visit Louisville

Hanging out with friends

Fellowship Women's Retreat

Thanksgiving in Florida

Florida vs. Florida State Game

Tim Tebow's last game at the Swamp

Florida players

Small group Christmas Party

My new nephew, born Dec. 11My other nephew

Christmas in Atlanta

80's New Year's Party

Busy Busy Busy

Andrew and I have been on the go for the past several weeks, and I have neglected the blogging world. I got back from my Colorado trip on the 28th of July, and the two of us flew down to Florida to spend a week with Andrew's family at his cousin's beach condo. We had a very nice, relaxing time with his family. It was beautiful down there. That was only my second time to go to the beach. We saw HUNDREDS of stingrays! It was so bizzare, and I really didnt want to swim in the ocean after that. :)

After our Florida trip, Andrew started another semester at seminary and I started up again with my Seminary Wives Classes. I made a trip to Memphis the end of August to help my mom host a bridesmaid luncheon for an old friend. I had a good time seeing my family and was able to go fishing with my dad and do some shopping with my mom. I got to play some with my niece and nephew. They're really growing up!

I also started a new venture. . . teaching elementary creative writing!! It's a neat little academy where the kids are homeschooled on Mon, Wed & Fri and they come to classes on Tues/Thursdays. Creative Writing meets on Tuesdays, so I'm just teaching once a week. I have 2nd-5th graders, each grade for one hour. The kids are precious and it's a great way for me to get out of the house. I still have some things to learn, but I think it will be a good experience.

We continue to stay busy with church. We recently got new small groups, and those just kicked off this week. Andrew and I are co-leading the group with another couple. I miss our old group but I'm looking forward to developing new relationships.

Here are a variety of pictures from the past month.

It's football season!! YAY!!! Here we are watching the game with our fellow Gator Fans
and their kiddos. We're taking a road trip with them this weekend to
THE SWAMP for Florida/ UT game. We're very excited!!

At birthday dinner with sweet friends celebrating Linda and Jill's birthdays!

Scott and Joanna's wedding

At my friend Laura's wedding in Memphis. I've know Laura since pre-school!!

At Laura's wedding with my parents, Tiffany and Bryan, and Tiffany's parents.
Tiffany and I grew up together and were roommates for two years in college.

My mom, sister-in-law and niece and nephew at my brother's house.

Hanging out with my niece and nephew!

My brother and his precious little dog Waylon!

Fishing with my dad. It was slow day for us, but we still had fun.

Enjoying the beach in Florida!

Andrew and his little cousin in the pool.

Andrew, his dad and brother doing a little night fishing on the beach.

Ummm...I'm so proud that my husband can communicate with the fish. :)

Me and my sister-in-law on the beach.

Family shot minus Julie.

I was probably getting a little too close to the stingrays!

We're being invaded!!!