Home

We bought a house last week and although it doesn't feel like home yet, I know that it will only be a matter of time. I am already having so much fun thinking about where our furniture will go and what little pieces we might need to make it look just right! It feels almost like make believe though. It's hard to imagine any where but Texas being home and I still feel like I'm not old enough to be doing all of this.

Here's the link to some more pictures, but I thought I'd include a few here too. http://picasaweb.google.com/kemerrick/NewHouse#

Michigan, here we come

Well, so long humidity and warm winters, we're headed to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the next five years and couldn't be more excited.    Now it's on to house, car, and heavy coat shopping for us and I'm already overwhelmed.  It's just been a rollercoaster for me thinking of leaving Texas and our families, but "steady hand" Michael has been cool as a cucumber.  I have never been good at mentally preparing myself for big change, so please be praying as we experience the biggest changes of our lives so far. We are confident it will be a funfilled adventure.  Y'all come visit us ya hear?   :)  

He Matched!

Today is Black Monday for all of the fourth year medical students around the country, which means they all find out whether or not they matched.   Like I said in the last post, Thursday is the day they find out where, but in order to give those that don't match a chance to scramble in to a program that didn't fill all of their spots they tell everyone on Monday whether they did or not. Great news, my hubs MATCHED!!! Praise the Lord!  He's going to be an Ortho pod.  Now we are just biting our nails and waiting to find out where on Thursday.  As if you can't tell, I'm proud of my man  

T-minus 6 days...

Till we find out where we're headed for the next five years of our lives.  I'm getting really excited and a little nervous that this is all about to become a reality.  We've known this was coming (obviously) but now we will actually be able to make plans and move forward!   

Michael has worked unbelievably hard the last four years in med school and to finally see the fruits of his labor is so exciting.  I am so proud of him and can't believe he will finally have that MD behind his name after working his tail off for so long.  Praise the Lord for getting us through these tough years.  It is only by His grace, and we will continue to trust and lean on Him as we embark on another tough chapter in residency, wherever that may be!  :)  

Belated birthday cake video

I know it's been almost two months since Luke's birthday, but I have been meaning to post this since his party.  He was IN to that cake.   

Haircut

Before

During

After

After an all out battle with Luke we got his hair trimmed two weeks ago and I've been meaning to put up some pictures.  We pulled out all the stops to get him to sit still and let the hairdresser trim but he was TERRIFIED.  We tried toys, and even lollipops but Michael ended up holding his head while I held his arms down and he just screamed bloody murder.  I was tempted to call the whole thing off a few times, but we managed and now he looks so handsome (if I do say so myself)!!  The ladies at the shop said they've seen worse first hair cut patrons but I have a feeling they were just being nice.  It was the same place that Michael used to get his bowl cuts done back in the day (Village Barber) so that was pretty special.  ;)

A day at the zoo

Last Friday we had a ball at the zoo with my mom (we're thinking she might be DeeDee now) and Aunt Val.  The only animal and corresponding noise Luke knows is dog and woof, so he repeatedly woofed at giraffes, tigers, elephants, you name it!   It was too cute.  Here are some pictures from our trip.  He loved the carousel again this time, but it was a lot harder to keep him still during the ride.  Go figure. 

He grew up today

Getting to spend most of my days at home with Luke is such a privilege, one that I hope to never take for granted.  Yes there are times when the job feels void of all glory with the endless laundry, poop, and monotonous baby music.  But I love it!  To be entrusted to teach and train a child in the Lord is such an honor.   I certainly appreciate getting to use the non-mommy part of my brain working from home when naptime rolls around though.  :)

It is days like today that I am reminded of what a blessing this time is.  This morning when I picked him up from his crib at 5:15am (he's an early riser lately) he was still a baby, but by this afternoon he had grown up.  I'm not sure what happened but all of a sudden my baby morphed into a toddler who talks, runs, chases, and eats hot dogs.  Where did my baby go? 

I came across this poem the other day and although I am just beginning to see how quickly they grow up first hand, I thought this was such a sweet reminder from a wise older mother (this is just the last stanza):  

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep! 

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

By Ruth Hulburt Hamilton 1958