Pages

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Infant CPR Class

This week we registered for use of the hospital. At the same time we signed up for classes offered to help us become the perfect parents. **Note: Within the first two minutes of our first class we were told,"Don't worry, you'll most likely forget the combination but it's okay! No body is perfect!"**

Yes, the baby dummy doll was creepy. Yes, it was weird sticking my entire mouth over the mouth and nose of the wee baby dummy doll. It is so interesting how our body is knit together so perfectly.

I'm proud to say that our baby dummy doll survived! We practiced how to help an infant that was choking. We were also taught more information about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) which will help us keep our little one safe and save us money on trying to make her life in America "cute".


Saturday, September 21, 2013

Preparing for the Arrival

In the past week we have take two GIANT steps towards being "ready" (does this ever REALLY happen?) for the arrival of our Little Girl.

1. We registered. We initially weren't going to. It's difficult to know what to register for, how much to register for, and just being aware that we will (eventually) need to move all or most of it to the other side of the world. How many diapers do you ask for? A million seems a bit much. So. Many. Questions. We registered at Target. We wandered aimlessly around the baby section with a scanner scanning what we thought would be needed. I'm sure others around us knew that this was our first baby and that we have NO IDEA what we're doing :) They looked at us with a mixture of remembering their own personal experience and a happiness for us.

**If you would like to check out what we registered for you can go to our list at http://www.target.com/np/baby-registry/-/N-564tn?registryType=R&originalEventType=BB and type in "Amber" "Harrington" with an expected arrival date of  "November 4" in "Texas". I think you may be able to purchase things online and mail them to us or even purchase gift cards and send them to us in the mail.  Thank you!**

2. We pre-registered at the hospital. This means that when I go into labor we can have Baby Girl in the hospital and they will be ready for us! We filled out paperwork and registered for a childbirth class, a nursing class, and an infant CPR class. I'm sure these classes will teach us all we need to know to be successful parents ;) The classes begin next week and continue through October.


Sorry it's sideways but this is the FIRST time I have put "mother" as  my relation to the baby!

Why I Cry.

Since pregnancy SO many things make me cry.

Here's a VERY short list of the many things that I can remember crying at recently:
- People doing kind things for others around them.
- Sharing with others about how their prayers and concern for Baby Girl impacted me personally.
- The trailer to the movie "Planes" about the Momma Bear and her cubs surviving in the wilderness... honestly, I think I would cry even if I wasn't pregnant. They paired it with a great song, and well... I just want them to survive the winter!
- Trying to go too long without eating something. It's a mess, and I promise you don't want to be around when that happens!

But yesterday was a totally different reason for me crying. We had an appointment with our doctor in Texas. Previous visits to the doctors in both Washington and Texas have tests suggesting that I'm borderline for Gestational Diabetes. I was asked to carry a glucometer and test my sugar levels at various points throughout the day for a week. My diet had to be adjusted- no more Dr. Pepper or Sweet Tea. I cried when "we" (this means Josh) got rid of the sugary drinks. The first day of testing I flat out rebelled and ate at Waffle House and tested that number. After I got that out of my system, I have been more aware of what foods I eat. At yesterday's appointment, the doctor said my numbers looked okay but she still would like one more week of testing. I had "some" (by some I mean a TON... or it felt like a ton) blood drawn for more tests that hadn't been done yet.

The doctor also expressed that the measurement of my baby bump wasn't matching how far along I was, which could suggest the baby isn't growing properly. So another ultrasound was scheduled at that moment. We started chit-chatting with the technician who flat out asked us if we were overseas Christian workers. Ummmmm.... is it okay to talk about this in public?? In a doctor's office?? YES... at least in Texas it is :)

Josh and I love sneaking a peek at our little girl. We had not shared anything specific about our journey with the technician. She got to the brain, and we asked about the size of the ventricles. She said," They are at a size 7 cm. A normal, healthy baby measures between 5 and 7cm." I started crying! We filled her in briefly about the initial size of the ventricles in Indonesia, Singapore, and then in Washington. She just stopped, looked at me, and said," Did y'all have a lot of people praying?" I blubbered," Yes! So many people!" We all agreed that the Lord healed our baby! It was absolutely wonderful to hear that Baby Girl is measuring well. She's not small! She's right on track weighing in at about 5 lbs 4 oz. The technician said she has hair growing on her head. It was such a relief to be told (again) your baby is healthy.

So, yeah, I cry at random, insignificant things but also at the Lord's goodness to me because I don't deserve it one bit.

The Farm- A Photo Tour



Hey y'all! Welcome to "the Farm". Located in the quiet town of Bridgeport, we are getting settled and preparing for the November arrival of our sweet baby girl.
 
The front view


Bathroom

Bedroom- This bedframe and mattress were the first ones we had as a married couple. It was put in storage, pulled out, put back together for us to use again!

The place where you'll sleep when you come.

Cute kitchen. A box was sitting there ready for us to go through. I can remember crying six years ago preparing for our move to Indonesia as I packed away dishes for others to have. "These are MY dishes!!" God has a funny way of reminding us of HIS provision. Inside the box were ALL our dishes, pyrex, pizza stones, Panini press, and other "stuff" that hadn't been used by anyone since we packed it. It was exactly the way we packed it over six and half years ago.

The living room
 
Our sweet ride for the remainder of our time in the States. With buttons everywhere inside, we are enjoying riding around in a dependable car.

Sharing about Indonesia

One of the neat things we get to do when we are home from working overseas is share with friends, family, churches, and anyone who will listen to us about what God is doing in Indonesia. It's interesting showing pictures, videos, and sharing stories with them of how we personally have seen God's hand in our lives as well as the ministries around us. We had the opportunity to share at Camano Chapel in Camano Island, Washington. What a sweet church family who is excited about how God is moving around the globe calling people to Himself. We had a chance to serve them a traditional Indonesian meal and share about the Lord's work. It's wonderful to be able to say that we are ALL apart of that work. There is NO WAY that Josh and I could do it by ourselves! We have a team of prayer and financial partners that make it possible for us to GO, but there's no way we could minister or "make it" without the SENDERS! Thank you!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

A Decade in Review

Here is my decade in review. The people I've met along the way, the places I've seen, and the cultures I've experienced over this past decade have forever made an impression on the development of who I am right now! Enjoy the journey, I know I did.
 
 **If you didn't make the photos PLEASE do not think for a moment that I am not talking about you and your fingerprint on my life! Narrowing down photos from a span of 10 years was very hard, and TRUST ME when I say you are indeed special to me!**
 
Alaska to disciple teens
 
A "graceful" landing at a college event

Ok be honest, who nails a jumping photo on the first try??

Beginning the journey of being an educator- parties included!

Life changing trip to Israel- the first (and not the only) time I was laughed at for TRYING to speak a new language.

Investing in young Israelis

Exploring Israel with a mentor from my home church
 
Graduation Day- stepping into the unknown
 
Graduating Classmates who have served in many homes and classrooms around the world.
 
Meeting Josh Harrington at our Wycliffe Orientation and forever changing my life. Love you!

Pikes Place Market- you know, where they throw the fish.

Road trips to meet family and friends
 
Dipping my foot in the Pacific for the first time

He asked, and I said yes! Well actually I said, "Are you serious?!!"

Engaged

More Wycliffe Training- yes, it did include how to build a giant snowman :)

Training included an off-road driving course- trust me, when they say SLOW they mean S L O W.
 
Wedding Day- June 23, 2007

Sweet memories of putting his ring on the wrong hand. I tried to turn away from the crowd and turned into the camera! My favorite shot of the most beautiful day of the decade. I love the smiles and laughter.
 
HUGE move to Indonesia. YES, we're THOSE people who brought pillows and slept in airports.
 
Orientation in Jakarta-" how to ride a bus and take a photo while everyone is looking at you"

Investing in young 'uns in Bandung during celebrations
 
First teaching gig at Hillcrest International School. These students are currently 10th graders, and it BLOWS my mind!

The first of MANY incredible days at the beach in Papua
 
First trip to Hawaii on our first furlough

First trip to an interior village in Papua- Bias
 
First Child! Coming November 2013

We're increasing our luggage allowance for the first time!


Josh and Amber (at 31 weeks)
Just putting captions on there reminds me once again how
incredibly,
overwhelmingly,
and undeservingly
blessed I am.  
 
This decade has been indescribable, and photos will never express the amount of glory the Lord is due for His protection and constant provision throughout these past 10 years.  I wonder what HE has in store for me this upcoming decade.
 
Images by Freepik