So, this afternoon I go to the doctor for my 38th week checkup. I’m going weekly now until baby comes. All weekend I have been having some pains, aches, nausea, and other possible labor symptoms. Apparently none of them amounted to much though because after being checked by the doctor he says I’m sitting on go but nothing has happened so far.

So now we play the waiting game. Unfortunately I’m not very patient. Countdown 12 more days till due date. I have myself a new game though. Being a person who loves lists, challenges, goals, etc… I’ve decided to make a game of it and decide on 12 projects I need to “tackle” before baby arrives. On the way home from the doctor I was brainstorming but didn’t have a paper or pen available so I had to try to remember them. In no particular order:

1. Prep Brady’s clothes, bottles, hospital bag, car seat, etc.
2. Try to clean this house up some.
3. A Blog Project
4. Writing an article to submit to a Christian print publication (requires researching publication, writing the article, etc).
5. Blogging for a client.
6. A special report for a client.
7. Catch up on Baker & Lily’s Scrapbooks.
8. Enter June financial info into Quickbooks.
9. Revamp business plan.
10. Revamp daily routines, business control journal.
11. Work through a Mom Masterminds resource.
12. Work on a floor plan for the home remodel we want to do soon.

So folks that should keep a gal busy right? Plus I have a meeting with my pastor tomorrow to talk about VBS evaluations and such, Wednesday night we have church, Thursday night we’re going to my parents for supper and to chat about home remodel with my dad (the architect), Friday is 4th of July and hubby is cooking ribs for us and his parents and my brother in law, Saturday night I have a cookout with the Tomgirls, Sunday is church. That should keep me busy for at least this week until my next Doctor’s visit on Monday.

Ok, ladies, I’m really impatient and can easily “dwell” on an issue so help keep me straight. Thanks.

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With every pregnancy I’ve had, this of which is number three, I have enjoyed almost the entire experience. Of course the early days when you feel nauseous and dizzy were not fun but they were over soon enough, but the later days when the big day is potentially “any day now” are far worse to me.

I have NEVER yes you read never gone into active labor or full labor on my own. I have been induced twice. Once prior to ever experiencing a contraction, which resulted in being in the hospital for over 24 hours before holding my first born.

With Lily, I began having these “braxton hicks contractions” as they called them on a Saturday, and they continued all day Sunday, until finally hubby took me to the hospital. They discovered I was dehydrated and put me in a room in the Labor & delivery area and put me on monitors and ran an IV for fluids. I stayed overnight before being released. On Tuesday I was having the same issues so I returned to the hospital but again was sent home. Thursday I finally had a doctor’s appt. was checked and was 3 cm dialated so they set me up to be induced the next morning at 6 am. I had Lily girl at 1:14 pm that afternoon.

This time around, I have had braxton hicks (I am assuming) for several days now. They will stay around for a few hours at irregular intervals and then disappear. However, this morning I got up at 4 am to come to the recliner from the bed for back pain relief, finally ending up on the couch asleep until 7 but even after getting up and moving around my back pain has not left. I have had a few irregular braxton hicks (I’m assuming) so I’m hoping that the signs are increasing. However, I also have some nausea, which is also new.

Whatever the case, Brady is due 2 weeks from today. I am hoping that I really don’t have to experience this for 14 MORE days, but only God knows!

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I know that I have talked ALOT about having this baby the past few days.  Braxton Hicks contractions have plagued me and I am just anxious and ready as most people who are 38 weeks pregnant with baby #3 would be.

So Here’s a poll for my readers for fun!

Baby Poll

This is a poll about when my baby Brady will be born.

When do you think Brady will arrive?

Create your own myspace poll

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After a deeply serious week of posts that came as a result of my weekend at She Speaks, I find this post where I have been tagged by a blogger whom I’ve never read before, but apparently she reads my blog and wants to get to know me, wow!

So, anyway, here are some answers so that maybe she and others can get to know me and then I’ll tag some of you. Fun huh?? It’s light-hearted and fun and since it’s Saturday that is appropriate.

Favorite person (outside family)?

Man this one is too difficult to answer, if I put just one person I’d hurt feelings. So I can’t answer this, because I’m a people pleaser and wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Favorite food?

Mexican

Quirks about you?

I am a people pleaser and I have an anxiety disorder, I freak out easily.

How would the person who loves you most describe you in ten words or less?

loving, caring, enthusiastic, emotional, high-strung, passionate, organized,

Any regrets in life?

Not really. I think every stepping stone along the way has been a part of God’s big plan.

Favorite Charity/Cause?

The Church - The body of Christ.

Favorite Blog recently?

My new favorite is Simply His Plus, I had the privilege of meeting Lisa B in person this past weekend at She Speaks.

Something you can’t get enough of?

Coca Cola Classic, and time with my husband and children.

Worst job you’ve ever had?

Snow cone stand operator.

What job would you pay NOT to have?

Anything dirty.

If you could be a fly on the wall, where?

In Heaven of course.

Favorite Bible verse right now?

Always,

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Guilty Pleasure?

hmmm, Coca Cola Classic ??

Got any confessions?

I have not a clue.

If you HAD to spend $1,000 on YOURSELF, how would you spend it?

Clothes and pampering, a massage, a manicure and pedicure, and my hair done.

Favorite thing about your house?

It is mine!

Least favorite thing about your house?

It needs more space.

One thing you are bad at?

Saying “no” to good things resulting in trying to do too much.

One thing you’re good at?

Speaking, writing, blogging and organizing in no particular order.

If you could change something about your circumstances, what?

As I learned this weekend at She Speaks I need to not change my circumstances but to have faith in what GOD is doing in and through them, but honestly there is NOTHING wrong with my present circumstances.

Who would you like to meet someday? Living or dead?

My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

What makes you feel sexy?

not being preggo LOL

Who is your real life hero?

my parents

What is the hardest part of your job?

Knowing that I am doing God’s will.

When are you most relaxed?

When I know things are taken care of and I can just chill.

What stresses you out?

Finances
What can you not live without?

God, my husband, children, family materially, my laptop

Do you agree or disagree with the recent article that reported that blogs are authored by narcissists?

I have to admit I do not know what that word means.

Why do you blog?

because it is relaxing and I love to write.

Okay - rules:
1. Answer the questions
2. Link back to whoever tagged you
3. Tag eight bloggers to do the same, 2 from each category.
• New/newer bloggers –Dr. Daisy of Dr. Mommy Chronicles and Alaina of Giggle Talk
• Bloggy friends — Tricia of Dragon Fly Dreams and Lisa B. of Simply His
• Bloggers you’d like to get to know better – Robin of Pensieve and Jo-Lynne of Musings of a Housewife(both of whom I’ve met in real life at She Speaks)
• Bloggers you don’t think will respond, but you hope will —Sarah of Real Life

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Earlier today I posted on the topic of confidence.  One of the things some women do to build their confidence is to do things to pamper themselves, getting a manicure or pedicure, getting a new hairdo, buying a new outfit or pair of shoes, etc.  I normally don’t do any of these things often.  I don’t treat myself nearly enough, however just before She Speaks I decided that since I was going to be up in front of a group of others speaking and that they’d see my hands, especially since I talk with them ALOT, I would go and get myself some nails.  Yes, these are acrylics because I have horrible nails which 90% of the time I bite off.  One of my bad habits.

So, I got them done on Tuesday prior to leaving for She Speaks and I love them. I have only had them done a couple of times in the past and never kept them or got them “filled in” just let them grow off or eventually fall off.  However this time I am considering the indulgence.  I am considering getting refills and keeping up with them.  I dont’ know how often this would need to be done.  Some of you ladies who currently participate in this pleasure might can tell me but I do know that the first time cost me $30 but refills are only $15 from what I understand.

So help me decide? Keep or not to keep?  Leave me your vote in the comments.

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“Confidence, I’ve got confidence, my Lord’s going to see me through”, lyrics to a song I sang often as a teen. This is the only confidence that is real in my life, the confidence I have in Christ. Confidence in self is something I have always struggled with, I think I probably hid it well but I have always had confidence issues. Behind my bright smile, I hid the fact that I was and am a shy person, who lacks the confidence I really need.

Sure things over the years have helped to boost my confidence, making the cheerleader squad in Junior high, attending modeling school in high school, meeting my husband, graduating from college, being admitted to seminary. But then I let those failures creep in, or at least they are failures in my eyes, the things I’ve left undone, create a lack of confidence in myself. It is only when I put my full confidence in and draw strength from God that I am able to remain strong and confident.

I am hoping that I can rely fully on the confidence that comes from Christ as I try to stay focused on God and His will and agenda for my life. I know that He has began something in me and in my life that is worth pursuing, worth following after. Another song, “He Who Began a Good Work In You” begins playing in my head….then the verse,

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

plays as well. The Lord puts all of these things on my heart and mind so that I will remain confident. I am going to continually go to Him because I know He can bring me confidence like no other.

What about you, what gives you confidence?

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Ministry, my heart and soul, is calling me back, truly it is a God thing. It is God calling me to himself. Making me realize I am truly blessed. Making me realize I am called. Confirming that calling, helping me to realize it is time to take yet another step of faith. Yes, last year in March I took the first GIANT step when I resigned from my position as youth & children’s minister at my church to commit to Beauty by Design Ministries full time.

The thing is I know this is what I was suppose to do but over the past year I still haven’t been 100 percent confident in that. I have opted to use other means to make money because of my own insecurities, which I now after attending She Speaks and becoming very convicted believe that I have only limited God by doing this.

I lacked the confidence to write articles and devotions and submit them to Christian publications for print publishing though I in October began to write for others as a ghostwriter and got paid weekly. To me this has been taking the easy way out of following God in faith. It paid the bills, but it wasn’t truly what I set out to do. I have done quite a few speaking engagements but because of fear, feelings of guilt about promoting myself, and lack of confidence I don’t believe I have done what I could have.

After She Speaks I realize I have been wrong. This ministry (Beauty by Design Ministries) isn’t mine, it’s God’s and it is all about Him. By promoting it, and speaking to teen and tween girls, and writing articles and devotions to them, is after all promoting God and what He has for their lives. I am going to refocus on that and I am going to recommit myself to HIM and HIS WILL for Beauty by Design Ministries. I am going to invest MUCH more of my time and energy into it, as well as invest in it financially, trusting Him to not only provide for the ministry but also my family, rather than trying to do it on my own as I have for months now.

I am going to take another giant step of faith by stepping back from some of the ghostwriting I’ve been doing, not adding anymore at this time on top of my current clients, not pursuing anymore “sideline” projects as I have in the past few months doing nearly ANYTHING LEGAL to make money ok not really, but I have done some VA type jobs, Wordpress installs and other things just because I thought I needed the money. It’s been too much about money and not enough about ministry.

It has been way too much of my agenda and as the theme of She Speaks said “I want to move my agenda aside in favor of God’s will”. So, I am clearing the right of way Lord, show me your path!

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I am still pinching myself because after this past weekend I realize dreams really can come true.  God not only confirmed in me but once again I felt him calling me to a higher purpose, a purpose only he can establish and a plan only he can orchestrate.  You see in the months before I signed up to attend She Speaks I began conversing with Leann Rice, Executive Director of Proverbs 31, and She Speaks Conference Coordinator, as well as Kristen Sigmon and Samantha Reed who work with The Next Generation, Proverbs 31’s teen division about becoming a part of the work of this division of Proverbs 31 Ministries.  After all teens are my heart.

Before coming to the conference these ladies said that we’d get together while I was there to talk about the possibility of my becoming involved with the Next Generation.  As a part of this I began back several months ago submitting devotions to them for publication on their blog for teens, A Radical Revolution.  I have had a couple of these devotions show up there already.

So, as soon as I arrived at the conference, I met Leann, mind you for the purpose of actually being able to stay there overnight as the hotel apparently thought I was coming in on Friday rather than Thursday, but sweet Kristen, willingly gave my husband & I her room, this only begins to tell you what kind of people these ladies are.

Leann assured me then and there we’d meet this weekend, but it might not be that night since her schedule had her working late.  I have to admit some doubts crept in as I began to worry, “do they really want to talk with me?”  But, at lunch on Saturday I sat pinching myself as I had lunch with Leann, Kristen and Samantha and was asked to share about the ministry God allows me to do with teen girls, my calling, my testimony and my desire to work with them.  It was an awesome few moments, one of the highlights of my weekend.  As I stared into the eyes of Samantha and Kristen as they obviously felt my same passion for youth, specifically teen girls I felt an instant connection.  As I shared with them, I had seen the Next Generation girls, those teen girls who attended the conference walking around and felt a strong urge to “follow them” as I have such a passion for sharing with and ministering to teens.

Not only did Kristen, Samantha and I have an instant connection, but I was also told by Shari and the other members of my speaker evalution group that they could see my passion for teens as I spoke.  Confirmation yet again, and I am sooo excited that Kristen, Samantha, Leann and I agreed to stay in touch as God’s plans for the Next Generation grow and come into being I will continue to be a part.  I can only imagine what God has in store, as just being able to be a part of this in any small way is a fullfilment of the dreams God has planted in me.  One thing is for sure, I will be back at She Speaks next year and I hope to be able to be a part of The Next Generation track there in some way.

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