Years of God Leading and Preparing a Way

Fall of 2003 my brother Brian and Kellie left for Scotland to start a Church, Re:Hope. God was calling them, but it was so hard to let them go. God has been using them in such an amazing way over the years. In December of 2004 we went to visit them. We were there for the first gathering in their church building. We thought about joining their team, but at the time God wasn't calling us there.


In March 2007, I went there for my 25th Birthday. I got super cheap tickets and met up with Erin Hanson. My love for the Church and for Scotland continued to grow.


In April of 2008, Dan and I went again. We found out we were pregnant with Hazel the morning we flew out. We had such a wonderful time. Dan got to helped demolish the stage in the old Church building to expose the tile floor and stain glass windows. Our hearts grew for Scotland and for Re:Hope . When we came home, Dan tried applying for jobs over there. He heard back from one, but they were too small a company to hirer internationally: (paying for visas, and flying us out, etc.). We didn't feel called to try and raise support and head over as missionaries, mostly because half of the people we would have asked for financial support from, were already giving to Brian and Kellie, and if anything, we wanted them to give more to them, not give to us instead.


We went again in May of 2009, this time bringing Hazel. By the end of this trip, our hearts ached for Scotland and the Church there. Although we didn't get to see first hand all the times and ways God was moving through Re:Hope, we kept up with it and heard about it through Brian and Kellie. We've been praying for and with the Church for years now, and it's so amazing to see all that God has done there.


Last September, the company Automattic, creator of WordPress, contacted Dan about a WordPress Phone App he had made for Google phones. He looked into the company and found out they were a work from home business in which there were employees all over the world. We instantly got excited about the idea of Dan working from home, and the idea of home being Scotland...Dan applied for some open positions and time came and went. Then in December, they asked Dan if he'd be interested in some contract work for building a website. Well, he accepted, built the website, and a few weeks ago talked with them about a possible job. After a few phone calls, they offered him the job last Wednesday! He's given his resignation notice at T-Mobile and starts for Automattic February 16th.

God has made a way for us to go to Scotland, the company doesn't mind if we go, basically we can go anywhere that has Internet! So now the journey begins. We are planning on selling our place or possibly renting it out and heading to Scotland on a year visa. The earliest we'd leave at this point is August, we have some summer plans and we have to deal with our Condo before we can go. If God wants us there longer, we'll work on a longer visa. We don't see this as a permanent move, but more like a year or possibly two. We are so excite to live in Scotland. We are so excited to be with Brian and Kellie. We are so excited to work with Re:Hope and be involved in it's ministry.


This year will be big, full of trusting in God, and praying for his leading and guiding. We are so very excited for this opportunity and can't wait to see how God brings it all about.

*the last two pictures were taken from Brian's blog of the new church building

Updates

Here are some updates on previous posts...

The weigh in for Hazel on Monday was OK. She only weighs 18lbs 3oz, but they didn't make me schedule a weight check again, so I was pleased. Hazel came down with two ear infections yesterday, so we've been dealing with that. She much better today, so that's encouraging.

I mentioned that I love Rosemary and Olive Oil Triscuits...well turns out Hazel loves them too. We snack together on them, she gets quite aggressive to get them!

About the hair cut...I'm still not sure what I'm going to do, but many of you commented on an in-between length, like shoulder length. Is this what you mean?


When going through the pictures, I found these and they made me smile...The first is of Grant who is now 4! And the second, is of Ethan and Emma, also almost 4 years ago.

Hazel

It's been a good year...and I'm not referring to the last 365 days, but rather 2010. (Not that the last 365 days haven't been good, they've been quite good, just for this particular blog post, I'm referring to 2010...the last 15 days). Haz and I have started a new schedule. She's down to one nap in the early afternoon, and we've begun the weaning process, dropping one or two feeds in the afternoon/evening, substituting them for solids at Lunch and Dinner time! We both are enjoying the new routine.


These are some of Hazel's current LOVES:

Her Daddy - Probably my favorite thing everyday is Hazel's reaction to Dan coming home from work. As soon as she hears the key start to unlock the front door, she drops whatever she's doing, smiles ear to ear, and gets in the crawling position. Once Dan walks through the door and she sees his face, she bolts straight for him, grinning and giggling!

Books - She got tons of new books for Christmas, and she loves looking through them...and eating them sometimes too.


Gymboree - We try to make class on Mondays, and we usually go to open Gym once or twice a week as well.


The Window - She still enjoys gazing outside...She even got under the curtain the other day when it was pulled shut.



Baths - She always has loved them, but she got bath toys for Christmas from Auntie Erin, so now the bath time takes more like 20 minutes instead of 5.


To talk - She talks (babbles) non-stop now. It's super cute. She looks at you and talks away, as if you understand her every word.

Third and Bird - I don't really let Hazel watch TV...except for Third and Bird. It's a British Cartoon about Birds with English accents that say things like "Brilliant" and "Trousers". It's super cute and Hazel loves watching it. We had some youtube episodes, but for Christmas, Mollie Ashworth gave her a DVD! And Aunt Kellie gave her some books and a CD of some of the stories. She dances when the intro song comes on...and gravitates towards the books. And I have the CD in the car, which always keeps her awake on the way home in the mornings before her nap.

Must have been an intense part

Hazel's 1 year check up is on Monday...It was scheduled for earlier this week, but due to her new one nap routine, it conflicted with nap/lunch time, so I pushed it back. I also pushed it back to try and fatten her up more. She weighed 18lbs at her last check up 2 months ago...she weighted 18lbs a week ago...So with the push of LOTS of food, I've gotten her up to about 18.6lbs as of today, and hopefully a bit more over the weekend for her appointment. I don't want them to make me come in for another weight check a month later. To give it a little perspective, the Gap size chart for babies says 6-12mo clothes are for babies who weigh 17-22lbs...12-18mo clothes start at a weight of 22lbs. However Hazel is super tall, so she needs the 12-18mo clothes in length, just not width!

Anyways, that's what Hazel has been up to this year: eating, play time with dad, reading, eating, gymboree, window gazing, eating, baths, talking, eating, Third and Bird, and eating!

To Cut or Not to Cut...

I like my hair short, and I like my hair long...I just hate the in-between, and how long it takes to go from short to long..

I've had my hair long for a few years now. I remember growing it out; it felt like it took forever! I'm debating whether or not to go short again for the summer. Any advice? What's your opinion?

Short
Long

One and Crazy

Two people this week have told me "you have quite an active little one". And this "active little one" got her first shiner last night! (It's above her left eye)


It's not really bad, but it's definitely a bruise. She fell into the metal foot-board on our bed. It's slightly puffy, and purple, but didn't seem to phase her much today. I'm actually kinda surprised she never got that injured over the first year. The only other thing I can think of is the time Sadie's leash gave her a rope burn on her leg. I hope, now that she's one, she doesn't get hurt more...but with learning to walk, I can only see this occurring more than I'd like.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl

Yesterday was Hazel's first Birthday! I sang her "happy birthday" all day long and she loved it. We had a fun day full of firsts: ice cream, milk, honey, strawberries, and being called a toddler according to babycenter.com!

We went to Gymboree in the afternoon to play and see Auntie Erin.

Then after dinner, we headed to Seattle to go to Molly Moon's for Ice Cream with friends. It was Hazel's first ice cream, and she loved it! She had Strawberry, I had Honey Lavender, and Dan had a Cinnamon ice cream milkshake.


We felt so blessed to celebrate with friends. The fact that they would want to drive to downtown Seattle, during traffic, and try to find parking, just to have ice cream with our Hazel Mae, warmed our hearts!


As I was looking up the popularity of Hazel's name yesterday, I found a new meaning for it that I LOVED! The definition most places give is from the English origin meaning, hazel tree, or nut bearing tree, etc. But I stumbled upon this one: "Alternatively, the name can also be derived from the Hebrew hazā'ēl (God sees)." LOVE IT! (found on this site)

We love you dearly Hazel, Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Party Girl!

We had two family birthday parties for Hazel this weekend. She did quite well, and really seemed to enjoyed them, (even though she had a bit of a cold).


Hazel likes to sit on top of things. If her highchair tray in on the ground, she climbs on and sits there. She did the same with her gifts. It was pretty funny.


Dan and I got her this Rocking Hippo for her birthday. We actually got it like 9 months ago when Baby Style was going out of business. Hazel LOVES it! We didn't let her see it til Saturday at the first party. She was instantly drawn to it. The pictures captured her excitement quite well!


The theme was purple, after the purple hippo gift. (I couldn't find any purple hippo themed things). I made Coconut cupcakes and Chocolate ones. The coconut ones were hands down the best cupcakes I've ever made. Thank you Martha Stewart! Hazel seemed to enjoy them too!

Birthday Party Success!