February 12th.  I really thought this day would never come. It’s officially my last day of work for 3 1/2 months!!!! Yippeeeeeeeeee!! I am so excited to be able to take the next few weeks to rest and really prepare for Baby Girl to arrive.  I keep hoping she comes early to put me out of my misery, but I also wouldn’t be opposed to having the full 4 weeks to just rest.

This week our doctor told us that she thinks we’ll have a smaller baby just from her judgment, and I’m really hoping for about a 7 pounder.  As long as she’s not walking out as a toddler then I’ll be fine All is going great with baby, and we seem to be right on track! The contractions are really keeping my body busy and exhausted, but also it’s good that my body is already preparing. Only 4 weeks to go!

36 Weeks

Integrity comes from the Greek words ‘integritas’ and ‘integra’ meaning whole. It’s a belief system without faltering no matter how dangerous, how unpopular the person makes themselves to others. It includes things such as: sincerity, keeping one’s word, honesty, truthfulness, ethics, fairness and justice, punctuality and never faltering for what you believe in.

Dictionary.com says that integrity means “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.”

How often do Christians not live in a state of integrity?

We assume that because we’re Christians, people will let things “slide” in a business sense.  We assume that people know we’re Christians, so we can get away with being unfair. We play our “God Card” and think that will automatically get us in the clear.  Integrity is a foundation that we build on, we can’t just keep assuming. We all know what assuming does

As Christians, we should set the standard, not fall under the world’s standard. I believe that living a life of integrity is one of the greatest ways we can set ourselves apart and stand out in a positive way. Integrity is something that I always strive for, but not sure I always uphold.  It’s the times when I find myself forsaking what I believe in just for the sake of not wanting to stand out. I should want to stand out!

I encourage you live a life of integrity. Of honesty. Above reproach.  Different.

Sometimes I fear that I don’t take the time enough to brag on my hubby and tell him how proud I am of him.  I always hope he knows, but I never want to take for granted that he does.  Being a pastor’s wife isn’t always an easy job, as I’m sure my fellow PW friends can agree.

It’s a difficult balance of “work and life”, when your life revolves around your ministry and serving others. My hubby is amazing at this.  Sure, sometimes he brings his work home.  But he does a good job of knowing when it’s time to unplug and focus on me. He’s practicing well for being an amazing daddy by taking his days off to spend with his family.  I’m so thankful for this.  Although him being pulled in a million directions can get hard from time to time, it’s a blessing to get to be a part of what he does. It’s not just his ministry, it’s OURS. I love that he makes me a huge part of it and always values my opinion so highly.

I’ve been a bit of a wreck for the past 8 months.  It’s not been easy on me to be pregnant, and that could have put a lot of pressure on our marriage because it’s hard for me to focus on it a lot of the time.  He has stood by me every step of the way. He tells me I’m beautiful when I feel the size of a house.  He encourages me. He tells me it will be over soon (that’s the best thing I can hear these days…). He never questions his feelings for me.

As women, it’s not always easy to be vulnerable with our spouses.  Especially when we want them to see us as beautiful and as perfect as possible.  But we’re in this thing…for better and for worse.  I’ve had my fair share of “worse” days lately, and he’s not left my side for a second.  And he won’t leave my side during our better days either.

One of the best days is to come, when we see our baby girl for the first time.  I can’t imagine a better man to share this with and to be the father of my children.  Thank you baby for all you for our ministry and our family.  You are truly my hero.

Wow…only 5 weeks until my due date.  I really can’t believe we’ve made it this far! I’ve been feeling a lot of contractions over the last week, some of which have really freaked me out. Some of which are probably just gas.  Who knows. Part of me hopes this means my little angel will come a couple weeks early, but I’m really praying she stays in there until she’s fully cooked and ready to come out. I’ve been telling her everyday that her birthday is March 5th, so maybe a month from today she’ll listen and decide it’s time

I really think the camera does put on 10 pounds, because I don’t think I look this big in person. Oh well. Here you go anyway, because I promised to do this until the end. As frightening as it may be.

35 Weeks

I’m a good sleeper.  Ok… a GREAT sleeper.  I have slept through my neighbor’s house catching on fire and firetrucks. I’ve slept through MANY thunderstorms (in Oklahoma of course, California doesn’t know what those things are). My dog can jump all over me and nothing. I’m out. My hubby enjoys this because a lot of the time I will chat with him and never realize it happened.

I had worried a bit that I wouldn’t hear my babies cry in the middle of the night, and would be a bad mother because I’m such a hard sleeper. Everyone tells me my sleeping habits will quickly change once I’m a mommy, and I do hope this is the case.

However, this child is already preparing me.  As I lay here awake at 3am because it’s “playtime”, I can’t help but cherish these moments.  Yes, I will be tired all day and a little annoyed that I didn’t get my 8 hours straight. But, these last few weeks I get to rest. Yes, I’m very uncomfortable, finding it hard to sleep and our little kickboxer is the most active baby of all time.  Yes, I hate being pregnant and can’t wait to be done.  BUT…this is the last few weeks of me. Just me. I have no little ones crying, having bad dreams or needing mommy in the middle of the night yet.  I just lay here and feel her roll and kick. What a blessing that is.

Keep kicking baby girl.  Mommy will sleep when you’re all grown up.

Moms are supposed to be able to cook right? Ok…well my mom didn’t cook. But my dad did. I never thought less of my mom for it though, and maybe it’s because my dad is such a great cook. Unfortunately, I take after my mom quite a bit in the cooking department.  There are a few things I can make really well: biscuits and gravy, hamburgers, homemade waffles, mac & cheese and my hubby’s all time favorite – chocolate chip cookies. That’s not a very impressive resume in the kitchen.

As I become a mom, I want to take the time to learn and cook more.  I know it will be several years before the little munchkin is eating what I’m cooking, so that gives me some time to practice.  For now I want to focus on some dishes that will be simple while having a newborn to care for and still delish for hubby and I to eat after a long day.

I’m looking for some great recipes in the following areas. Please leave a comment with your recipes or feel free to e-mail them over to me at karakae@karakaejames.com.

Easy Crock Pot Meals

Freezable Casseroles

Quick On-The-Go Dinners

Fun Favorites for the Kids

After I go on maternity leave next week and have a few weeks before baby comes, I’m going to try my hand at some new things and freeze some stuff that will be easy for us to eat in the first few weeks of Baby Girl blessing us with her presence.

Maybe I will become a cute little 1950′s housewife afterall.  Doubtful, but there’s always a chance.

Thanks for your help!! Can’t wait to try out some new things!

I’ve talked many times about how I’m not a huge fan of pregnancy. I often wonder what pregnancy and childbirth was to be like before the fall of man.  Was it going to be perfect and painless? Would people have had way more children because there was no pain? Would the world be extremely over populated because no one died and all women just wanted to have babies because it was such a blast? 

Genesis 3:16 Then he said to the woman,
“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,
and in pain you will give birth.

I find myself a lot of times wondering what pregnancy and childbirth was like for Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Did she get a break? Did she have 9 months of morning sickness and all the wonderful “joys” that many women face in pregnancy? She didn’t get an epidural or any drugs, but did God feel for her and lessen the pain as she gave birth to the Savior of the world?

So many questions I will ask when I get to heaven.  I imagine there will be a long line of women waiting to meet Eve.  That poor women messed it up for all of us, and frankly she’s not my favorite person right now as I am very uncomfortable and dealing with all kinds of pains in my 35th week.

Well ladies….get in line.  I’ve got a bone to pick with Eve.