Book list

Shane and I both have enjoyed reading a lot recently.  Thanks to some encouragement from good friends, family, and blogs I started a list of books I plan to read.  Hopefully, posting my goals on here will encourage me to read more and cross them off the list!  Of course I hope to add in some just-for-fun fiction books as well.  Let me know if you have any other suggestions of great books to add to my list.

The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian (I just finished this with a group of wives at Ft. Benning) *highly recommend for any wife
God Strong by Sara Horn (I am in the middle of this one) *highly recommend for any military wife
Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney
Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas
The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Paine
Your Week by Week Pregnancy by Glade Curtis & Judith Schuler
The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine
A Child is Born by Lennart Nilsson & Lars Manberger

North and South Carolina Tour

Shane graduated from Bradley leader school a week ago, which let him off just in time to enjoy a four day weekend!  Since his graduation was early enough we actually ended up leaving Thursday afternoon, and didn't get home until late Monday night.  It was a wonderful, relaxing, fun, and beautiful trip.  I can't tell you how many times we said how pretty the scenery was, and it just kept getting better and different!  We were able to hike to several different waterfalls, drive along the blue ridge parkway (and many other windy mountain roads, Shane enjoyed a little too much!), and stay in the mountains in North Carolina, then we drove to the quaint southern town of Charleston, South Carolina.

Shane was braver than I and hiked under the falls in North Carolina!

I watched from a distance, but it was still beautiful!

This was the second largest yellow poplar tree in the country.  Except there were signs saying how it had died three years ago.  Either way it was huge, and a fun hike through the mountains.

Shane in the middle all of the oak trees in Battery Park Charleston, South Carolina.

Looking out over the Atlantic Ocean in Hilton Head, South Carolina on our drive home.  The beach was beautiful, although I was not properly dressed for a walk on the beach.

One of many southern plantation homes in Charleston.  It was truly like a movie walking around that town, I didn't know it existed in real life!

Sunset by the water in Charleston.

Katie & Sean Visit Georgia

This past weekend we enjoyed having our good friends Katie and Sean visit us in Georgia.  They were such great guest, and we all had a very relaxing but fun time together.  I was worried about being sick, or tired while they were here, but they helped take great care of me over the weekend.  We toured post, worked out, cooked, played games, went to dinner, saw a movie, and then hiked Stone Mountain in Atlanta before they left.  We are already talking about our next adventures in Kansas with them.  Thanks for visiting Katie & Sean!

Before our two mile hike.

I made it, though definitely out of breath!  Ten weeks pregnant today!

Katie and I at the top of Stone Mountain.

Katie and Sean looking out at downtown Atlanta.

It was cold.  We never got an exact temperature on top of the mountain, but on the ground it was 34 degrees.  It was also extremely windy, making the wind chill in the teens.  Brrr!

1+1=3

Baby, oh baby!  We're expecting a new addition September 9th!

Our precious little baby at 9 weeks, 1 day!  First ultrasound was today!