limes, limes, and more limes

Baby Bryant is now the size of a lime!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!! What a big jump from a few weeks ago when it was a blueberry or a raspberry!

Here's the developmental info for this week:

Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

Isn't God's creation AMAZING?!?!?!?!

When looking for a picture of a lime, I found this one as well and HAD to share it! HILARIOUS!

I got a text from Mike early this morning as they were gathering to head out to their work sites. He said they had a really good church group time last night and that God was really breaking down some walls with a few of our youth! I am so excited to hear that things are happening. I had faith that they would but it is good to hear!

With Mike gone, I'm leading our youth time tonight! I haven't been the leader of a group in a while and am a little excited! Nikki-she helps us on Wednesday nights-and I will be sharing our Faith Stories with the youth. I'm very excited!! I decided to focus on the place they are at in their lives-teenage years! I always love getting to share how God transformed my life!! and...I'm excited to hear Nikki's story. I'm sure ours are polar opposites but I think that will be good. That will help the youth identify with either story.

Mike's picture is up on the World Changers site! It is mixed in with all the others from yesterday but if you'd like to take a look, the website is in the post below. His picture is in the group from July 28.

Hope everyone is having a FANTASTIC day and week!!

Want to see pictures and read updates about the World Changers mission trip that Mike and the youth are on this week??? Check out the website below!!

http://blogs.world-changers.net/corpus-christi-tx-july-25-august-1/

As I type this, there is a funeral going on in Andrews for the father of 2 girls I grew up with. Although we weren't super close friends, I've known them my entire lives, attended the same church as them as children, and we were involved in many of the same things during school. I knew their dad...he was such a nice guy...and everyone in town knew Jerry. He will be greatly missed in the community of Andrews! Kelsey and Korey, I'm so sorry for your loss...

I forget sometimes how much I'm affected by the memories of attending the Church of Christ (COC for my typing sake!). We attended the COC until I was in 7th grade and for the most part, those my age that attended had attended from birth as well. Although I have my own issues with the church, I do have many good memories of our time there. My mom sent me a message from the funeral saying she had a Hymnal dedicated to a friend of mine that passed away when we were in the 6th grade. That got me thinking about those memories. I can't think about Cole and not think about my time at the COC.

We all have things in our past that, when mentioned, can take us back to a time or place in an instant. Hearing the news about Jerry and hearing Cole's name took me back. What is it for you??

Fruit of the day...Prunes!

So....I opted for a picture of prunes before they are dried. They looked so unappealing shriveled up!! This week--week 10--Baby Bryant is the size of a prune. Here's what is happening this week!

With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.)

My baby's arm joints are working!! YEA! lol

Better late than never!

I finally found the cord for my camera! YEA!! So, these pics are a little old but since no one has seen them yet, they are new to you!!

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My dad and sister came to visit a few weeks ago and we had a great time! We traveled to Rockport and explored the town...it was a neat place and now that we know what is there, we can plan out next trip better.

Group picture in our dining room!

Mike, Christy, and I went out on a pier. It was neat to be that far off the land...we watched some jellyfish floating around! I am fascinated by jellyfish!

Christy being herself!

Us on the pier.

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A few weeks ago, we had a visitor at the Children's Home...a bunny!

Jacque (lady I work with) and I were watching it through the window when we realized it was licking the water from the sprinkler off the grass! How sad that it is so dry here!!

Introducing...Baby Bryant!

We had our first appointment yesterday at Victoria Women's Clinic and everything went well! They confirmed that I am 10 weeks and was even able to do a sonogram! Seeing the pictures and knowing this little creation was inside me growing was an amazing experience! I though I would get emotional the first time I saw our baby but I was just amazed! My camera is dead (long story of why I haven't charged it! Hopefully tonight!) so Mike took a picture of the print out with his phone, texted it to my sis, and had her email me from her blackberry. All that said, the picture isn't great but it shows you our little blessing!! We go back in two weeks!!

Green Olives

We made it back safely from Youth Camp!! We had such a great week...it was a different experience being at camp pregnant though! I had to rest a bit more than I planned! God did some amazing things through our youth!! Three youth began their walks with God and one finally gave in and surrendered to the ministry! He has been struggling with that for some time now. We are so excited to see him follow God's calling on his life. And we are SUPER excited for the 3 that decided to follow God with their lives! There were MANY that felt God speaking to them regarding different things and we are so grateful for the week and what was learned during our time away.

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Mike and Stacy (one of our youth's mom) leave with 11 youth on Saturday for a mission trip in Corpus through the World Changers organization. They will be participating in construction work Monday-Friday. I was supposed to join them but with the pregnancy, we decided I shouldn't go! I'm disappointed that I don't get to be a part of the mission work our youth will be doing but know it is not safe for me or Baby Bryant. With it being in Corpus, I will go down a few times to join them for nightly worship. I'm SO excited to hear what our youth will learn next week! If you'd like to pray for them by name, there is a list on the Youth's blog. http://www.groundedstudentministries.blogspot.com/

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Speaking of Baby Bryant, we have our first appointment tomorrow!! I can't wait! I feel like we've waited FOREVER for this appointment...it has only been 5 weeks! I don't expect much out of the first visit. A friend of mine goes to the same clinic and said her 1st visit was very uneventful...but, I have to get the first one out of the way to get to the 2nd, 3rd, etc. Oh--and Baby Bryant is the size of a green olive this week! I wouldn't think a green olive was bigger than a raspberry but I guess so! My book also said it was the size of a grape...my question is, what type of grape?? There are tons of different sizes! Oh well, I stick with the olive!

Youth Camp

We leave for camp on Monday!! Please join us in prayer for all the campers and sponsors!
We have MANY campers going that are not regulars or even attenders at the church...please pray that they will be impacted by this week at camp! Also, it is SUPER hot in South Texas right now!! Please pray that the heat will let up just a tad so it is an enjoyable week. I'll be going as a sponsor and am a little nervous about the heat. The heat tends to make me feel sick so hopefully I'll be able to stay in enough.

Thanks for all your prayers! We appreciate them all!!

Raspberries

Baby Bryant is the size of a raspberry this week!!
I love getting the updates of the size in relation to fruit! I think it puts it in perspective for me how much the baby is growing!
Angela says everytime I send her a fruit update, she has eaten that fruit that day! Last week was a blueberry...wonder what next week will be!

Finally!

I'm so excited to finally be blogging about being pregnant! I'm not sure why I was so hesitant on announcing it online...maybe because I've always shared EVERYTHING and wanted to keep this to myself for a little bit. But, Mike and my sister were going CRAZY! They wanted to post things on Facebook so bad! I'm glad they held on until I was ready.

I've felt pretty good until this weekend. I had a hard time with feeling queasy but I think it was due to a hectic schedule. Maybe hectic isn't the right word, but unroutine (if that is even a word)! We went home Father's Day weekend to visit friends and family in West Texas and then had the pleasure of my mom and sister visiting last weekend for Wicked. This weekend, my dad and sister came down Thursday-Sunday so things have been a bit different than normal lately. I'm trying to get rested up before next week--YOUTH CAMP!

I'm excited about Youth Camp but a little nervous. It is so hot down here and I hope I feel well enough to get out and do some things with the youth. But, the majority of them know about Baby Bryant so I'm sure they won't hold it against me! HA!

I hope to have some pictures up soon of this weekend. I always misplace my camera cord so once I find it, I'll upload the pics!

Thanks Sarah Beth!


The rules are:
1. List 10 honest things about yourself that your blogging friends do not know about you.
2. Give the award away to 7 bloggers.
3. Let them know they've received the award.

Let's see......most of you know a lot about me so I'll try and be creative!

1. I love that our 2 cats are on the fat side...I think it makes them super cute!

2. I resisted texting until 2005 because I didn't want it to take over my life! There have been times but overall, it was a great addition to my life!

3. I can't go to sleep at night without a sitcom (Friends, Wings, Home Improvement, etc.) playing. I'll stay awake and think of a million things. As soon as the sitcom is on, I'm OUT!

4. I could drink Skim Milk with every meal! LOVE IT!

5. I still enjoy teenager movies and TV shows. Good thing we're in youth ministry...I can always say it helps me keep in touch with the youth!

6. I'll begin taking courses in the Fall to complete my teacher certification - 8-12 English Language Arts and Reading!

7. I'll pick purple over pink in almost anything if given the choice.

8. I LOVE creative photography...not that I am a creative photographer...but I enjoy looking at it!

9. I have been getting my eyebrows waxed since the 5th grade!!

10. I'm 7 weeks pregnant!! Not many people know about this but I'm making the online announcements this week/weekend!! The "10 things about me" was a good way! I have my first appointment July 21 and according to an online source, I'm due February 18!!

Now...I'm passing this award on to...

Kate

Molly

Tamisha

Jacey

Amber

Wicked Weekend

My mom and sister came down for the weekend!!

We saw the Broadway musical Wicked in San Antonio and it was AMAZING!

Of course, we had to stop by Chuy's first!

Even though I saw them last weekend, we had a great time.
I'll take any time I can get with my family these days!!

My sister gets to make the trip one more time this weekend!!

She's coming with my dad to visit for 4th of July...

Mike went with us to see Wicked and I'm so glad he did. He isn't much on theater but he was surprised at how much he enjoyed the play! I'm glad he was able to experience Wicked with us!

Where do I start????

We had such a great time in West Texas...although we were happy to be home and in our own bed Tuesday night!

I planned to document the entire trip with pictures but got caught up in visiting everyone that I didn't take any until our last night. My Nana got to see every one of her grandkids in one weekend, which doesn't happen very often! All of us other than my cousin Rani who lives in Dallas had dinner on Monday night and I had to get a picture!! Here are a few:

Tamisha, Lindsey, and Angela stopped by to visit!
I LOVE that Angela and Mike act like siblings...LOL

We got back just in time to take the youth to a Corpus Christi Hooks game (same league as the Midland Rockhounds). We had a great time but were ready for bed when we got home!

West Texas, here we come!!

In less than 72 hours, we'll be home!!!

We are both SOOOOO excited to get to take a trip back to West Texas for several days. It has been a while since we were home. Things here have been super busy! VBS is over but Mike has lots of activities for the youth! Monday nights he has an open gym for those that enjoy playing basketball, dodgeball, etc...needless to say, I am sitting that out! Friday afternoons, he has Fridays with Mike...this is a time of crazy games, movies, or just hanging out. Last week, they played water games against another youth group in the area. I heard it was a lot of fun...I stayed dry at work! LOL... July is just around the corner and it is jammed packed with youth activities! CAMP! MISSION TRIP!

Other than youth stuff, Mike and I have enjoyed spending time together in our house...with the change of seasons, we are reminded that we are home owners...we're reminded of the joys that come with that, as well as the responsibilities. Mike has a pretty good system of keeping up with the yard, although it is dying as we speak. We need another good rain to come along! We have gotten to swim a few times this summer! Some members of our church that we've become friends with have a pool they don't use very much. They've told us anytime we want to use it, we are welcome to it! We are SO THANKFUL to them!!

I hope summer is treating everyone well! I'll have tons of pictures to share next week of our trip home! Stay tuned...

Slime, slime, and more slime!

VBS has come to an end!

It was such a great week and a great time

for Mike and I to get to know some of the kids

and other adults that we never get a chance to be around.

Tuesday night he wore a Skidmore shirt (Skidmore is about 15 miles from Beeville and we have some kids that attend school there.) This was the only purple picture we got!

Wednesday night he wore a Pettus shirt (same as Skidmore but in a different direction)

Last night, he went back to the basics with his VBS shirt!

and the multi-colored hair.

The question of the day everyday was "What color is Mike's hair??"

Just talking...

Pre-Slime...Coach Bryant vs. Professor Wordsmart

The kids brought money each night to go towards a project that is hoping to provide a New Testament for every person in the state of Texas by 2010. The girls money went towards sliming Coach Bryant and the boys went towards sliming Prof. Wordsmart. Overall, the kids raised over $800.00!!! We were all so impressed and blessed!

Nancy got slimed first but they couldn't leave Mike nice and clean!!

Just a side note: Our Pastor (Greg) slimed Mike and my boss (Todd) slimed Nancy!

They were both such good sports!

We wanted a picture but I didn't want to get slimed...

He tried getting me slimy and I told him if I was getting slime on me, I was getting a kiss out of it!

Orange day of VBS

I can't remember what color his socks were this day...LOL

The kids LOVE his changing hair color.

Last night it was purple!

The VBS theme this year is Studio Go!

It is centered around a game show and the regular contestants are:
Coach Bryant and Professor Wordsmart

aka Mike and Nancy (pastor's wife)

These pics are from Sunday night. I'll get some from last night (Monday) soon. Each day, some stuff is different. Last night's service project did not go as smoothly as the first one (see previous post) but it was still a great time! The kids made trail mix to take to someone who takes risks for God. We talked about how taking a risk doesn't always mean doing something dangerous, just something that may scare you. Risking being teased by not making fun of someone when your friends do...praying for your lunch at school when no one else does...etc.

VBS

VBS started last night and it is going to be a great week! A friend (Meaghan) and I are in charge of the Service room where the kids learn about service projects. Each night we have a different project for them that enables them to serve others. Last night, we washed car windows for the VBS workers. I was so impressed with the kids' attitudes! They were so excited to get to go clean the windows! I didn't hear one complaint or negative comment! And the youth helpers were great too!!

Mike has been transformed into Coach Bryant for the opening and closing sessions! I hope to have a picture for you soon...I can't find my camera cord. Plus, my camera died before the closing session which is when he gets to take the stage the most, but Todd said he'd get some pictures of him. We got him all dressed for the part: tube socks, t-shirt tucked into his shorts, sweat band, whistle...we even spray painted his hair green last night (with hair paint of course). The kids loved it! Even the youth were calling him Coach and commenting on his green hair!

Exciting news! We have a new music minister! Bob Grainger was voted on yesterday during the morning service and will be joining the staff the beginning of July. We are excited for the church to have a full staff. The last music minister left last May so it has been a year without a full time worship leader.

Up

We went with some of the youth to see the new Disney/Pixar movie Up on Sunday night and it is such a good movie! I think it hits home more with adults than kids, but it is definitely cute and funny enough for kids/youth to enjoy it also! It had such a great message of living your life now! And the wilderness kid (Russell) was SOOOOOOOOOOO cute! You just want to hug him, and squeeze him, and take him home! (If you couldn't tell, I suggest seeing it!)