I have never been a patient person.  I’ve tried, somewhat successfully, to become more patient over the years.  But it’s not easy!  Patience really is a virtue– you have to work at it, and you can’t force yourself to be patient.  It comes with practice and some self-reminders to not feel the need to rush things along.  But I think you’ll have a hard time convincing any woman who is 9-months (or in my case 39-weeks) pregnant to just be patient.  When you’ve had this little person growing inside of you for so long it’s extremely difficult to bide the days, hours, minutes until he or she decides it’s time to arrive!  Right now, here at KWWL, three of us are all in this same boat. 

Schnack, his wife Melissa, along with Floyd and I, are especially on pins and needles since this pregnancy is the first child for us.  (This is Mark Woodley& his wife’s third child.)  I know whenever these three new little babies decide to grace this earth, all the waiting will feel worthwhile.  But for now, the countdowns are on–and we’re all ready to see the faces of these new additions to the KWWL family!

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In the news business, you grow accustomed to the expectation that you will spend many of your holidays at work.  Unfortunately, whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Fourth of July–you name it–news doesn’t stop happening, and we’re here to report it.  I can honestly say that as much as I hate getting up on Thanksgiving morning and coming into work, I’ve grown to be more thankful for it the past couple of years.  It’s no secret that our nation’s economy continues to struggle, and there are millions of people who would be happy to have any kind of job.  So for me to not only have work, but to be doing something I love is really a blessing. 

Even while working, I’ve been able to spend at least part of the past few Thanksgivings at home.  Last year, we missed the holiday meal with Floyd’s family, but caught the tail end of my aunt’s celebration that night when we rolled into town around 8:30 p.m.  And we got to be with my mom’s side of the family the next day for the Painter family Thanksgiving. 

This year, we’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of our little boy–who is due in just more than ONE WEEK!  So we’re staying at home and will have dinner tonight with my parents wo made the trip up to see us from Missouri. 

So all in all, a holiday at the office isn’t all bad.  It does make you grateful for the many blessings in life, and allows you to cherish the time you do get to spend with family the rest of the year.

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Within the past few weeks, Floyd & I have had three family members hospitalized for different ailments.  Floyd’s step-dad had double pneumonia (on top of his existing lung cancer), my grandmother broke her collar bone, and Floyd’s dad had a heart attack this week and had to undergo surgery and have stints put into three of his arteries.  Whew! 

When I’m so focused right now on my body and all the changes that are happening to make way for Drake, it’s easy to get preoccupied and not think about how lucky I am to be healthy through the process.  I know all of this stuff has not been easy on Floyd.  He and his dad are close and I know he would love to be there to see him right now.  Last night, I told him I was sorry he couldn’t be by his dad’s side.  And he said, “It’s okay.”  I know he really means that.  It’s certainly a scary ordeal, but his dad seems to be recovering as good as can be expected.  We can’t always be physically present to support our families when these kinds of things happen, but we can pray and ask others to pray for him, too.  And right now–we also have so much to look forward to.  Drake will be here before we know it!

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I haven’t been doing this personally, but it’s been kind of neat this month to see so many Facebook friends participating in the “thankful” challenge.  Each day, they’ll post a status update that reflects something they’re thankful for, and you’re not supposed to have any repeats.  A while back, our church encouraged us to keep a similar list of our blessings for just one week.  And it’s really not hard at all to do.  When you really contemplate how much you’ve got to be thankful for, it’s a little overwhelming.  God is SO GOOD, and too often (myself included) we take those things and people we’re thankful for, for granted. 

So I’ve been pondering a little bit of what I’m thankful for the past few days as we get ready to head into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  Without going into a big, huge list (which I could easily do!) I just want to pay homage to what the heart of my blog is really all about, Floyd.  He’s the sweetest, most kind-hearted, and genuine person I have ever known.  He gives me reasons every single day to be grateful for him.  He works hard, tolerates me in my crazy times, and always manages to convince me that everything really *will be* okay when I get stressed out or upset about something.  And I have zero doubt that he will be an AMAZING daddy in every way to our little boy.  He’s made me a better person just by knowing and loving him, and for that I am most thankful.

What are you thankful for?  Don’t just keep it to yourself.  Let those you appreciate know it often.

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When I was in Mrs. Peine’s 2nd grade class at Clarence Cannon Elementary School in Elsberry, Missouri, we assembled a small holiday cookies cookbook.  To this day, I still have that little yellow cookbook tied with a green string, and it’s recipes are some of my favorites!

The other night I whipped up a batch of probably my favorite of the favorites in the book–applesauce cookies, and shared some of them with my KWWL co-workers.  Here’s the recipe.

Applesauce Cookies

2 cups flour 2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt

Blend all the dry ingredients together, set aside.  Then mix together the following:

1/2 cup shortening 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 1 egg 1 cup applesauce (smooth or chunky works)

I don’t care for nuts in baked goods, so I never add them.  But the recipe suggests you can also add a 1/2 cup of slivered almonds.

Mix everything together until moist.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  Enjoy!!

 

 

 

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My dad is one of the dwindling group of those folks who are still avid newspaper readers.  He can’t go a week without picking up a Sunday morning copy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  As part of his reading traditions, he’s always liked to pick up a newspaper when a new baby is born into the family.  Then the little one can have some kind of idea of what was going on in the world when they came into it.  It’s something pretty neat to reflect on years later, and think, “Remember when…?”  So of course, Drake will be getting a newspaper whenever he decides to enter the world, and we’ll save it for those very moments down the line.  What’s extra cool is that my dad’s also saved all the special St. Louis Post World Series editions that came out when the Cardinals were in the race for, and ultimately won, the title.  It will be such neat memorabilia for our little guy to have to remember what happened the year he was born.  2011 has certainly been momentous for us, and will continue to be, as we embark on this new chapter of parenthood.  And I’m glad out little boy will have tangible ways to remember what his parents saw unfold the year he was born.

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The countdown to Drake is officially on!  It’s still so hard to believe that we will take on the title of “parents” in just a few, short weeks.  We’ve still got a lot of projects on the “to do” list before our little guy arrives, but we are starting to chip away at that list!  I came downstairs Sunday morning to find Floyd assembling the stroller and high chair–the last of the two big boxed items that hadn’t been put together yet.  I smile every morning  now when I come into the kitchen now and see the high chair sitting there and think about what the little boy who will occupy it will look like. 

The basement is the other big looming project.  Floyd has now finished the mudding and taping of ALL the drywall—WOO HOO!!!  We hope to get the primer and paint finished up this weekend.  Next weekend, my brother-in-law is coming back to help get the project polished off–putting in the flooring, trim work, and putting together/arranging the furniture.  I know Floyd will breathe a big sigh of relief once it’s all finished.  I will too!  It will be so awesome to have the added space completed for family and friends when they come to stay with us.  I’m really proud of his handy-work and commitment to getting this undertaking finally finished.  Pictures to come when it’s done!

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Part of marriage is taking on a whole new set of relatives–the in-laws.  For the most part, Floyd & I have been blessed with a good bunch of family who we love very much.  But like any family, there are some people in your family that throw a wrench into things–often because they’re unpredictable. 

For the longest time, my brother fell into that category.  You never knew quite what to expect of and from him.  I don’t bring it up much, but he spent some time behind bars and has only been “out” for a couple of years now.  But if the system has ever opened anyone’s eyes to a need for change in their personal behavior, it certainly did it for him.  (That’s what I prayed deeply would happen.)  He’s still got some growing up to do, but boy has he come a long way.  It’s a whole lot easier not just to love him, but to actually like the person he’s becoming.  He’s always been a fitness nut, and he’s been working as a certified personal trainer for more than a year now.  He’s gotten so intense with his workouts, that he decided to really put his skills to the test.  This weekend, my family got to watch him compete in his first weight lifting competition. 

Out of around 50 competitors in his division, he took 3rd place.  He texted me right away to let me know.  I told him how awesome that was, and that I was really proud of him.  That’s one of the few times I’ve actually been able to say that–ever.  He’s showing hard work and dedication to something he loves.  And for him–that’s really a big deal.  He’s got a career he loves, and an amazing girlfriend that we all adore.  For me, the biggest remaining gap is that he still needs to develop a relationship with God.  Once he crosses that line, I really think there will be no stopping him.  But for now–we’ll keep taking things one step at a time, and be proud of the great progress he’s making.  Love you, Kyle!

(Super cool side note:  After he found out his placing, he dedicated his win to our cousin Steaven, who recently passed away after a long battle with cancer.  And he then told my mom–the next one’s for Drake–his soon-to-be nephew.  That brought a smile to his little sister’s face! )

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Last night, we wrapped up a month of baby-related classes.  We took courses in breastfeeding, baby basics, and Lamaze.  It feels good to be a bit more educated about the process of bringing a baby into the world, and everything that comes along with being a new parent.  Last night, for our final Lamaze class, the instructor had a note card for you to write down your hopes and dreams for your baby.  Floyd & I had already done this with a message to Drake in his baby book.  I remember looking at my baby book over the  years and seeing the message my parents wrote to me.  It’s amazing how it’s still so touching, and now it connects me to how they felt carrying my brother & I to the emotions Floyd & I have now with our little boy.  I hope one day Drake will still treasure the words we’ve written to him.  Here’s what we wrote:

First and foremost we want you to always know how much we love you!  We want you to pursue everything in life with joy and passion.  Above all, we want you to become a Godly man and to walk with the Lord in all you do.  He is the great counselor and will guide you along the best path for your life.  God has BIG plans for you!  Always trust Him with all your heart.

 

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