...from the hospital...

Hey everyone! We're at the hospital listening to Margaret's heart beat! Shana's water was broke...and is on the meds to kick this into high gear!! Seems that contractions are starting. All is well....keep praying!!

The Final Hours

We are down to the last few hours before we hopefully see our baby girl face to face. We have anticipated this moment for so long. While we are nervous to be walking into an unknown experience, we are so excited that her birth day has finally arrived. As the big day approaches so much runs through your mind...What will she look like or who will she look like? What kind of personality will she have? Will she sleep well? Will she cry a lot? What if she gets sick? But the question I ask myself the most is how will she see Jesus? Somehow pregnancy makes you acutely aware that your not perfect, that you do screw up (quite often), and you have a long way to go to be the person God created you to be. Unknowingly our Sunday school lesson was written just for me...or at least that is how God made it feel. We talked about preparing yourself by seeking God's direction through prayer, acting on his directions, and living in obedience with His will. If I had to describe what God has been teaching me in the last year, that would be it in a nut shell. The last two weeks those lessons have really come to full circle. In the last year, I have spent countless hours praying for two different situations. In both situations, God asked me to submit my words and actions to Him. Any one who has known me very long knows that I often forget to "think before I speak" so let me tell you this has not been a easy lesson. But never the less it was high time I took a big girl pill and learned that it is not all about me. I was obedient i both situations with very different outcomes. Through this process I have come to the realization that despite my obedience God is not going to grant my every wish...but I don't really care! Yep that's right. I have spent the better part of my life wanting to be in control which really has gotten me no where. However, when I step back and expect God to work in ways I could never imagine He does and it is always so much better than I could ever dreamed. In the end, I find myself at a place in life I have always wanted to be but didn't know how to get to...a place where I wake up every day thirsty to give all of my life over to God...my words, my actions...so that I can live in complete obedience to Him. As I reflected on these things on the way home today, I thought what an amazing God we worship. He started this lesson several years ago. There is no doubt in my mind that this lesson was a provision for what tomorrow brings. God has brought me to a place where I truly trust Him to guide each step I take. As we take a big step into parenthood tomorrow I would not want to be any other place than in God's arms. There are a hundred and one things that run through your mind before you become a parent which I am sure will become a thousand and one after...but knowing that whatever happens God already has it covered takes a load of worry off my mind. I can sit back ad enjoy each moment as it comes. As a parent, I am still not going to be perfect. I am still going to screw up. I am still going to be a work in progress. Hopefully what are daughter will see when she looks at us are two people who love God and try our best every day to live in obedience to Him out of Love because it is such a sweeter place to be then tangled in our own mess.

DADDY'S GIRL??

My poor wife!! She woke up this morning saying " A watched pot never boils...and this baby is never going to come!!" Yesterday(Thurs), we had some "signs" that made us think she might be coming before Monday...when Shana is scheduled to be enduced. BUT...this morning...nothin'! I think it might be my fault. I believe Margaret is a daddy's girl already. This has been an extremely "full" week for me. I had the Tulip Grove Annual Art Show for my students on Monday, said good bye to my student teacher on Wed., Thursday I had to give a presentation on Freud for grad school(and totally rocked it!!!), and tonight is the Nashville Metro Art Teacher Art Show where I will be receiving an award. This past weekend I had a heart to heart with Margaret... talking into the microphone(Shana's belly button)...like I've done all pregnancy long...I asked her if she could please wait till at least after Friday night so daddy could get all this "stuff" done. Well..here we are...Friday morning...and little Miss. Margaret is still hangin' with mommy!

..TAKE A LOOK..

Take a moment & jump over to my art blog to see my student art show!! My kiddos are so amazing!!!

http://artwithmre.blogspot.com

The Art Teacher Art Show

The annual(or almost annual) Metro Nashville Art Teacher Art Show is here once again. I've had issues with the show over the years. Many pieces have been rejected(sometimes all pieces rejected...that's one of the issues...you're suppose to get at least one in!!). However, that's part of being an artist, and you have to learn how to deal with the rejection. To my surprise though...this year, all three of my pieces were accepted, and one of them...Dismal Sunset(featured here)...won a judge's award. WOW!!! I am very thankful & excited to know that others see value in what I create. Sometimes you start to wonder why you do what you do when no one else seems to get it. I've stuck it out though, and am glad to see the reward of never giving up...and always pushing myself to be better. Now...we'll see if I actually get to go to the opening & receive my award. Margaret may want to have her own show that will demand daddy's attention!! ha ha

...a dad's perspective...

A week from now I'll be able to hold my baby girl. The thought of her makes my heart flutter & my eyes well up. I've enjoyed feeling her(and at times seeing her)move around as she grows in the safety of Shana's womb, and every chance we've been given to see her through modern technology has brought me so much happiness. I can not wait to see her face to face. Holding her close. Her little hand gripping my finger. Finding rest on her daddy's shoulder or in my arms...all nestled in.

I truly miss my dad. It is the only sadness I feel in the mist of the excitement of Margaret's coming. He will never see her...he will never hold her...he will never have the joy of being a grandpa. I am sad that I'll not be able to ask him questions about what it was like for him when my sister and I were born. I can imagine his face if he were still alive... to see my daughter...the joy and the pride..the amazing smile! He will not see her...but I know I'll see him in her! My dad was too large of a personality to not leave a mark on all generations after him(if you've seen me...you've seen my father!!)

In all of this, I know that there is amazing parallel to our Heavenly Father!! The joy He must have as we grow. How excited He must get when we grab ahold of Him...or rest our head on Him finding our peace. Also, like my earthly father.....I pray that my daughter sees him in me....and HIM in me! I desire to be a reflection of the Lord to Margaret...and example of His love.

These are just the thoughts of a new dad......

Everything I Learned about Motherhood I Learned from Third Graders!

Friday was my last day of work in anticipation of Margie making her way into this world very soon. My wonderful teammates had the kids give me a few tips for being a good mama. They were too cute not to share...

The fatter they are the better they grow. ~ Joe

As a mom I think you should give your baby hugs and kisses before it goes to bed. If you don't it might think you don't like it. Another advice is you need to feed it and take it outside everyday. If you don't do any of that stuff than it will be mad! ~ Melissa

Have safety alarms around the house and live near the safety department. ~ Gabreil

When the baby cries she is hungry. ~ Alyssa

Don't let her sit too close to the TV. ~ Owen

My best advice would be to stay with your baby most of the day and just really really love it. ~ Nigel

Buy plenty of diapers. ~ Hannah

Feed her good food ~ Destinee

Give her a pacifier. ~ Yakira

Turn off the lights so she can sleep. ~ Michael

Save up money for Margie to go to college. ~ Heaven

Give Margie a good bath twice a day. ~ Donnie

When Margie grows up tell her no to talk back. ~ Haley

Teach her things. ~ DuJuantez

Teach her how to walk. ~ Krodel

Margie needs 1 nap a day (I think more) and take her for a walk 2 a day.

When you go shopping make sure you check the back of cans so she wont have a lot of sugar. ~ Dru

Rock her in the rocking. Not too hard or she might pit up. ~ Makayla

Love her like you would love your mama. ~ Kendricka

Make sure she gets plenty of calcium. ~ Shelby

Be a very good more and do your best! ~ Xyaire

Put some water in the milk so it wont be too strong. ~ Darian

Always keep an eye on her. ~ Alora

If the baby starts to cry and you get crazy, feed her, or give her to her dad. When babies are babies they like there dad pretty much. But don't worry. When she grows up she'll be all over you. Take it from an older sister of three. ~ Madyson

When she is 7 or 8 try to give her pink medicine so she can get better. ~ Jordan

Love her even when she grows up. ~ Edward

Brush her teeth. ~ Lynzie

You should bake her a great cake! And get her a plaid carrier. That would look nice. ~ Dalton

You can put them in time out if they do something bad. ~ Juaneisha

You should play with your baby. ~ Baileigh

Give her vitamins. ~ Alivia

You should sing to her when she is sick. ~ Mary

You should feed her apples, grapes, and strawberries. I think she likes them. ~ Gary

(That would be my usual morning snack)