Goings On

Haven't been blogging a ton lately...haven't been taking a ton of pictures lately either. Other than for work, obviously. :) But there were a few on my camera, so here's a little update.

Audra is a high school art teacher. She teaches photography, among other things, so she asked me to come speak to her classes. The auditorium at their school is under construction, so she booked the Augusta Theater for us. Tuesday was the big day. There were about 50 students, and I gave a brief background of how I got started, showed some sample photos while discussing composition, and then took questions. They were a really great group! Lindsey came along to support me, and wouldn't you know, between two photographers, we didn't bring a camera. I had my point-and-shoot, so she took this with that...sitting on the steps up to the theater stage. Not great, but it's all we got. :)

It's been super cold lately! Avery came to work one day bundled like this and I got really jealous.

We had a wedding last night, but I have today off! So Adam and I have been cleaning all day. I took photos of the two rooms Adam cleaned so you can see how our house is supposed to look. :) Hopefully it doesn't smell like dogs anymore. ;) That's for you, Dad.



Speaking of dogs, we have a houseguest this weekend. Meet Mars. His dad is Adam's friend and he was going out of town, so Adam agreed to dog-sit. Mars is crazy. More hyperactive than Axl. He's really clingy to Adam, and my dogs are really clingy to me, so they've been staying away from each other for the most part. Axl keeps giving Mars the death stare when he gets too close. Haha.

Remembering

Today, October 15, has been set aside as a special day. A day to remember babies that were lost, whether that was before they were born or after.

The forums I've been reading with other ladies who've experienced what I've gone through have been talking about this day all week. Many of them plan on lighting a candle "virtually" around 7pm this evening to remember the babies they've lost. I may not participate (mostly because I have a session tonight that will interfere), but I've been doing a lot of remembering today.

My little 10 and a half week baby. Technically, she would've been older than that, almost 12 weeks. At my first sonogram, when I was supposed to be 9 weeks along, my little one was measuring small so they pushed me back to 7 weeks. Such a short little life, such an impact on mine.

I've been thinking a lot today about that little life. How my belly would've been huge and round by now. How I would've been anxiously awaiting her arrival in about two months. I have to stop myself. That wasn't God's plan. His plan was to have her with Him. She was just too perfect for life on Earth...He wanted her in Heaven with Him.

I miss that baby so much...I think about her all the time. But I'm learning to have more trust. I'm trying to be good at being a faithful servant even in this storm. I'm trying not to be the type who only praises Jesus when things are going good.

To quote the verse I quoted on here when I announced my pregnancy, because it's still truth:

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

-Jeremiah 29:11

Gina's Big Adventure

Finally, the video from my acrobatic plane ride on Labor Day!


Gina's Big Adventure from Adam Dreher on Vimeo.

Hold On

From Streams in the Desert this week:

But he who Jesus holds through all,

Will stand, though Heaven and earth should fall.

Hold on! An end will come to sorrow;

Hope from the dust will conquering rise;

The storm foretells a summer's morrow;

The Cross points on to Paradise;

The Father reigns! So cease all doubt;

Hold on, my heart. Hold on, hold out.

Thoughtful

This week, I received an awesome package in the mail from Jess. It was wrapped up so cute...I just had to take a photo.

Axl had to check it out to make sure it was suitable for me to open. Maybe I should put him to use as a bomb-sniffer...? He's already been fired from keeping the squirrels away at Adam's parents house...we'll keep searching for a use for him.

Jess and I have been emailing back and forth, she's been so helpful and supportive throughout these months since we lost the baby. I'm always amazed at how thoughtful she is, in spite of her own grief. I'm sure she doesn't want any recognition for this :) but I couldn't resist. She sent me a sweet note:

And two devotionals that have been helpful for her since Cora went to be with Jesus. The one on the left is specifically for people dealing with loss, and I'm excited to continue reading it.

Thanks so much Jess!

A verse from this morning's chapter:

"He shot his arrows deep into my heart. The thought of my suffering and hopelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: the unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction."

-Lamentations 3:13, 19-22

Crazy Legs

Lindsey went to grab Avery from Ginger one day this week while she was crying and Ginger was on the phone. She brought her back to the cave, and couldn't get her in a comfy position, because Avery has CRAZY LEGS. She locks her knees all the time, so you can't hold her like a normal baby. It's hilarious and weird. She was probably the only 3-month-old who could stand (while leaning against something). Here's a photo of the crazy legs.

If you read my photo blog, this was also the same moment that the quote in this post occurred. :)

Hot Tub

My parents got a hot tub! So cool. It was the splurge for my mom's birthday. The perfect remedy for my mom who, like me, is always cold. I'm a little jealous, but have to admit that they have the perfect deck for it, whereas we would have nowhere to put one.

I went to Newton last Sunday to have Navajo fried tacos and to enjoy the hot tub.

6777777 <----------- That was courtesy of Axl, who once again thinks my keyboard is a good pillow. (Edit: I just realized that made a link to the next photo....which is hilarious because I have no idea how to do that...)

This is Annie, one of their Corgis. She's the only girl in our gaggle of dogs (there were four over there that night) and was sticking her tongue out at me. :)