Somewhere in the middle

Life for the Fuersts is somewhere in the middle. We are not yet Floridians, but no longer Kentuckians. We are in Missouri for the next week or so ... but living out of suitcases. Tom commented today that he truly feels nomadic. I think so do I ...
Phoebe is doing the best with our middleness. She is at home as long as her daddy and mommy are around. It also helps to have her same trusty night time blanket.
I think I could learn from her. As long as my heavenly father is near, I can be home wherever I lay my head for the night. He is taking care of me no matter my state residence.
I should also look into a trusty blanket of some sort; it really does seem to help :)

My husband of seven years ...

Today I have been married to my best friend for seven years. As I look back over our marriage thus far, I am immersed in thankfulness. God knew what He was doing when He brought Tom Fuerst into my life.

You are my complement.

You are the adventure to charted course. You are the passion to my quiet spirit. You are the confidence to my reservedness. You are the dreamer to my down-to-earthiness. You push the limits when I want to hold the line. You welcome the stranger when I want to stay safe. You yell out loud when I only want to whisper. You chase after God with every fiber of your being, and you daily invite me to do the same.

You make each minute, each day, each year better than the last. I can't wait for 70 more years of life with you.

By the way. This counts as my card. :)

Dancing

Phoebe loves to dance. She'll dance to organ music, she'll dance to nursery rhymes, she'll dance to rock n' roll.

She dances without abandon. It doesn't matter if we are in the grocery store or in church. If music comes on that she needs to groove to, she grooves.

Last weekend, we went hear Too Many Drummers play, and Phoebe was in her element. When the drums started, she stuck her little rear out and started bouncing to the beat. She was so taken with the music, she wanted to inclued EVERYONE in her rhythmic movements. My daughter walked over to a table of college guys and grabbed one of their fingers and started dancing. I think the poor guy was taken back by my forward toddler. I laughed with pure delight.

I love that my daughter knows what she likes and feels no shame in delighting in dancing. I hope she remains that way!

Waiting

It seems life if full of waiting.

Each day we wait for something ... whether it's the microwave to beep or a house to sell.

I've not been a good waiter lately.

I'm getting anxious. I want to know something, anything about our future. What state we'll be in is a good start. I want assurance that all will be well. I want to know I'll have time to settle into a new home before our son arrives. I want to quit my job so I can have a few months with just Phoebe and me. I want... I want... I want...

It's these times of uncertainty that God invites me to rest. Rest my racing mind. Rest my load of wants at His feet. Rest in that He knows well.

But who knew resting could be so hard?

Praying with Phoebe

So Phoebe is one year old now and becoming her own person. She loves to chatter, but doesn't say very many clear words yet. One of her first is yeah. You ask her a question and her answer most of the time is yeah. She is so agreeable :)

Each night before bed. we read books, sing songs, and lastly pray. We usually thank God for things that happened through the day. We pray for our family, our friends, her new little brother on the way. After each statement, my precious daugher affirms the prayer with her sweet "yeah!" It's almost like she is amening me. I love it. Our prayer time is becoming my favorite time of the day. Her participating in prayer reminds me to come to my heavenly Father like a little child - simply affirming the Good He has created all around.

Time flies

My daughter is nine months old. She cruises around furniture. Takes a few steps on her own. Imitates the sounds coming from your mouth. Wants to drink out of a big person cup. Eats pieces of table food. Definitely has her own opinion on how things should be. Can tease me. Tells stories. Laughs a deep belly laugh. Dances in church during the songs. Kisses you on the lips. Hugs your legs.

How did she grow so fast?

We are about to celebrate our first Christmas together and I am boggled how much my life has changed since last Christmas. This year I can see my toes. This year my heart and family have grown.

I wonder if Mary wondered at how fast Jesus grew? One day he is toddling around her home the next He was saving the world!

Circle of support...

Each Sunday night we hang out with our good friends Eric and Erin (who we live with) and Josh and Rachel. I don't know when exactly it started, but I am sure glad it did. Some nights involve deep talk of theology other nights include break dancing.
Last night, Phoebe was stealing the show with her cheesy grin and attempts at walking. Someone suggested she should take a lap around the room. So she did, from dear friend to dear friend. She'd walk a while grasping onto Eric's fingers for balance then pass off to Josh's fingers so on and so forth until she walked all the way around our living room. Something powerful hit me as I watched my daughter loving go to and from my dear friends... a realization that Tom and I are not in this alone. We have friends who love us and love our daughter. That Phoebe's life will be richer because of my friends. That we all lead richer lives because of the community we have formed.