Lately...

So, I've decided that I can't wear anything that I really care about anymore, because in my pregnant state I seem to spill anything and everything that I eat :-) The other day, it was salsa and today I'm soaking a shirt to remove ketchup! Good thing this doesn't last forever...I'd run out of unstained clothing!

Mexico '07

Just some pictures from our mission trip to Mexico...

Okay, so some time has passed...

It was embarrassing when I realized how long it had been since I updated our page! Not that you would know (from my page), but don't worry we made it home fine from Mexico! And now, it seems that summer is already fast approaching. That's the way it is when your job is working with students...you revolve around those academic breaks. We are just turning our calendars to May and I already feel as if June, July, and August are already mapped out as well.

Yesterday I was snuggling with my friend Jamie's brand-new baby Clara and getting very excited for my own. It's a little easier to imagine as I feel her moving almost constantly now and we're beginning to get the nursery set up. I love decorating in general, but there is something wonderful and uniquely special about preparing a room for a little person inside of you.

The upcoming excitement in our lives is that we have to begin taking the "birth classes" next week. Yes, it is a little early but with my clinic, you have to do them 2-3 months prior and our June was too full. SO...here we go. HA HA. Stay tuned for what I am sure will be an exciting time for all.

Our News

We are so excited to tell you that the precious baby we're welcoming into our family in August will be...a girl! Josh and I just saw the ultrasound this morning and there's a healthy, strong girl growing! I think God's miracles became more real to me today as I watched our baby kick and move around inside of me, while she's still being knitt together. We're feeling very blessed as she is growing perfectly and everything was healthy. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.

I'll have some pictures up soon of the ultrasound. Also, we'll be taking off for Mexico this friday for spring break missions with the students. Please pray for safety, ease crossing the border, and for our little one to keep growing strong!

So they do listen...

I was nannying and overheard this, coming from Zack who is 3 towards Hannah who is 1:

"Hannah baby, you cannot have this play-dough castle that I'm making. It is not because I don't love you, it's because you are too young. It would hurt you. I will give it to you when you are older...now you can watch me play and be happy for me!"

Let's just say that Hannah did not understand Zack's best intentions and promptly came to get me about the injustice. Ahhh...good practice!

Coming Soon...

I just scheduled the ultrasound for March 22nd where we'll get to see what our baby looks like and also we will get to find out what we're having! Our friends Paul and Gina just recently had a baby boy, and when they were finding out, Carley (the 3 year old) decided it could be a baby or a puppy! "We're going to find out if it's a baby or a puppy. We're not sure; I'm hoping for a puppy"--Carley.
We're sure it's a baby, but we're looking forward to solving our debate of if the little one is a boy or a girl! It'll be fun to start planning a little more and maybe do some decorating too. Although, Josh remindes me that the nursery does not have to be complete the week after we find out!

Our Baby Update

We got to hear the heartbeat of our little one on Monday. It was very exciting and made everything seem so much more real. The Dr. said that everything sounds strong and healthy! Praise be to God who is knitting our baby together; there are no stitches missing! It is also a huge praise that we are with the clinic that we got into and our Dr. is very good. We are thankful to be taken care of so well during these critical stages.

Here's a picture of our family on vacation: Josh, Anna, and Baby! Yes, I'm 3 months pregnant with our baby who will join us in August. The Lord is so good and we're getting more and more excited.

Yes, I know...

Yes, I know how crazy long it has been since I was actually on my own blog site updating it! Shameful, it's true. It's no longer beginning to feel like Christmas, although the past few weeks of ice and snow shows were tempting to fool me.
January flew past! It was filled with youth activities, including an amazing winter retreat. We had a successful number of students participate (which is always encouraging, when planning an activity) and our dear friend Brian MacSwan presented some solid truth for the students to learn from. And, good news, no bones were broken on the mountain and that includes Josh!
Josh and I were also able to get away for some much needed rest and time together. We spent a week at a bed&breakfast, specifically designed for clergy, called Shepherd's Rest. We were spoiled and loved and encouraged. We can face ministry once more.

It's Beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

I can't believe how quickly people turn from Thanksgiving to Christmas. It all seems to go so fast. One moment the women are rushing for the biggest turkey and the next they are after the socks at Fred Meyer. We are in our home and everything is in order finally. We have our tree up and decorated...it makes it look so homey. I love the warmth the fireplace brings and the smell of hot cider. Josh already put up the outside lights which welcome us home during those late youth group nights.
Although it seems that one holiday ends and another begins, I know that this Christmas I'm thankful for a lot of things. Josh and I have gotten to spend time with both of our families, friends too. We have good jobs, a warm home. This is also our first Christmas married. We're looking forward to having some relaxed, peaceful time together. As I get ready to bring in some of our cherished traditions, I wish you all a very blessed season as we get ready to celebrate the God of the universe becoming a babe to save us all.

We have most of the painting in our house finished now and we just moved a lot of the furniture, with the help of our small group, last night. I must confess that after 20 plus hours of painting and ripping off wall paper until my fingers no longer moved, I had my doubts that it would ever look good enough to have people see it! But, not to fear, it looks great now and we're so excited to start our new life there. We just have a couple more rooms...Paint is a lot more fun to look at than actually going through the process of putting it on. The Lord's provision is just pouring abundantly on us right now. I'll put pictures up later.

Home 1...2...3...4...5

1. We sign closing papers on Wednesday the 8th

2. We paint almost the whole house on Saturday the 10th-Tuesday the 14th

3. We move in on Wednesday the 15th-Saturday the 18th

4. We turn over our apartment on Sunday the 19th

5. We sleep really well because it's all over

Oh to be five again...the little boy I nanny, James, was so saddened today by another little boy cutting in front of him at school today. "If I were him, I would never have cutted like that. If only he new how sad it made me. I think only a movie and pizza for lunch can fix me!"--James.
I just had to laugh. For the most part, they are very sweet little kids, James and Hannah. I met my parents earlier and I think they would have taken Hannah home with them, had it been an option.

I decided that I really wish there were a "laundry fairy" who folded and put away laundry...that is one chore that I passionately dislike!

Some Answers

Thanks to all who joined our prayers...we got the house! We continue to get more excited as the steps are completed; please keep praying that everything continues to go smoothly. We are so pleased that the Lord has this as part of His perfect plan. The neighborhood is so close to so many wonderful church families.
We will close on November 10 and take possesion on November 13. Then we will be the Kintigh Couple who lives in a house rather than an apartment. It's pretty cool to be married for 4 months and already be getting a real home--God is a faithful provider!

Tonight Josh was at an elder's meeting, so I decided to have some middle school girls over for a movie night. I was so blessed by even the simple ministry time of just girl talk and a sweet Jane Austin movie-"Emma." I think the trick to building genuine relationships is making even the short, spontaneous times an opportunity for growth.
I was told this past weekend at a ministry conference that if you want students in your ministry for a few weeks-give them great programs, but if you want them to stay for the duration of their time-give them relationship. I think tonight was the Lord blessing me with great relationships with these awesome girls.

The House We're Praying For

This is the house that we're going to make an offer on, Monday morning. Hopefully, this is where we will call home.

What the Lord is Doing

The house that we really wanted is, in fact, still on the market. Apparently the offer that was previously made fell through. Please join us in praying as we prepare an offer this week for it. We pray that it would come together smoothly and that the sellers would want to accept what we propose. The Lord is such a good God; we are trusting His faithful provision to show us what He has in store for us.

Josh and I are going to visit two more houses tomorrow. The one we looked at on Monday was a sweet house, but someone else beat us at making an offer. That's okay though, because I am confident that God has something much better in store for us. Hopefully, one of these houses...it'll be good to keep this house search short.