Abigail's Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day from my sweetheart Abigail Norah!

She is 9 months. She took her first step this month on the 6th. 

Abi likes to play peek-a-boo with her blanket too. It's the sweetest thing. 

She has stolen John's and my heart. 

She is turning 1 in April if feels like it's coming up so soon. 

I am so thankful she is healthy and growing strong. She babbles and I know she wants to talk- she also loves when I read to her. This is so precious she will even turn the pages.

I sent this postcard out to our family members. 

Dayton Urban Nights

Abi, Mama, Jerica and Hannah at Urban Nights.

This is a fun shot of the Refuge girlies I hang out with. They are so supportive and loving to our family.   Urban Nights is a downtown event promoting downtown life + events. The local food vendors serve yummy food and there is live music. My mother was able to come too! Abigail is getting so big. She turned 7 months yesterday. She loves using things to pull herself up on. She crawls really well now and intentionally will crawl if you enter the room. The joy of being her mom is such a gift from God.
My aspirations were to finish several books this year I think I only did three-or four. I finished Paul Miller's book, A Praying Life. Learned there is no reason not to offer up a prayer to our Maker and Author of our life. He already knows what's going to happen but we also want to do his will as Jesus also did his Father's will. I especially like the idea of praying scriptures for people, my husband and others. There is so much to be thankful for everyday. Jerica is a nursing student at Cedarville University and Hannah is in my Girl Talk group for discipleship and accountability, newly married she is very teachable and excited to serve Christ.
Tuesday we will be getting new family photos taken and hopefully will be posted soon.

Both happily married

BFF

My friend Ellen got married! I was so happy to be there with her and listen to my friend share her vows with her beloved husband, Richard. We have shared many good times together and watching each other grow-up essentially. Her wedding was so romantic, elegant and simplistic. I have always loved Ellen's style-n-taste. We are at the opposite states of the country. Her life in Oregon and my life in Ohio. This will never separate a friendship like ours though.

Sorry blog world. I have not disowned you. I just got busy with this little girl! Abigail Norah Pope. Which means, "Father's Joy". We love her so much. Thank Father for putting in her in our family...

I started a new Moleskin journal

Why? You ask. Well because I am currently writing to my Dear Little One. John and I are expecting a baby Pope in April 2012! My first ultrasound is Tuesday. I am so excited. I took two home pregnancy tests and one while my parents, or should I say grandparents-to-be were visiting us. I keep looking down at my belly and thinking really? God planned this Little One to be in our lives as early as 2012. I am so blessed. I am so thankful and even more perplexing to me was finding a doctor but He is faithful and I love the staff and doctor. So, boy or girl?

no looking back

Recently, I have transitioned from being a full time nurse to feeling unemployed in some ways. Another new adjustment is when John and I signed a lease for our rental downtown. In many ways there have been times where I have enjoyed this season and sometimes like yesterday, I had to tell John I was bored. Mind you I've done the usual things like get in the Word in the morning and then I even did a sewing project. I heard Beth Moore speak about being prepared by getting in these promises ingrained on my heart for those seasons of desert and spiritual battles. I desire the realness of knowing God like when I pray with John, there's a God who loves the people of Dayton more than we could ever love them. He can care much greater for their hearts and souls than we could ever imagine! God is using us for his purposes and we want to give Him our all. I love that TCC is an established church and it cares so much for it's members and right now I know that I cannot compare our new beginnings with something that God has started. He is at work, I will be going with Him. The members still remind us of His goodness from time to time and it is amazing to hear from them. True encouragement comes from the Father, and I pray I will run to His tender arms of mercy and run to His loving embrace. May my comfort always be seeking out my Savior and not the safer and the familiar things.

Refuge

John and Dave have worked really hard putting together a promotional video for Refuge City Church check it out.

Lake Lynn

 Our 1st apartment together. This is the road we live on. I cannot say I run very regularly on this lake but I love the chances when I do. Sometimes I found John with book in hand reading on the grassy areas.

 I usually make friends with the geese. Especially when I bring bread.  I often see turtles popping out their heads from the water or sun bathing. This was probably the first time I have seen a swan on the lake.

                        

The mile markers can either make you happy or discouraged as you jog around the lake. Instead I like finding my favorite memory spots as mile markers. One example is where John and I had a Cook-Out (fast food) picnic. This captures some of the great memories God has graced John and I with as a new married couple and I will say I will miss Lake Lynn very much when we move to Ohio. I guess I will learn to love another lake.  I guess I missed my monthly blog post. That's how much I blog.

I like my ring!

Too often I'm struck by the fact that women, (especially Doctors), have huge diamonds on their rings. I keep thinking - Did he buy your love too?

Asia Traveling take II

John and the Sylvesters about to enter the Blue Mosque. A picture of the Turkey flag. 

John and I about to enter the Mosque and he's trying to warm up his nose...

John loved playing with the kiddos, this is Naomi and I think we are at a restaurant.

Johnny and I on the ferry boat. It snowed and rained several days we were there.

Brrrrr. 

Our hotel view was awesome.

The marriage seminar was a great success. There was time for fellowship and intentional couple time.

John cared for the older three brothers of one of the workers. John taught them new card games, and enjoy the Word together. Julie W, myself, and the Sylvesters took turns watching the little ones and also had times to sit in on the marriage retreat sessions. The hotel/cabin we stayed at was on the border beach area and although it was windy we enjoyed God's creation.

We glanced at the life of the H's and it's not an easy task. They are in language studies for at least 15 hours a week. It has been a blessing to be around their family and see how one functions in a big city. They share a van with another worker one week at a time. Otherwise the bus is another option, or walking. Kindra does the grocery shopping at bazaars/markets and serves her husband by watching and teaching their children at home while learning the language too.

The H. family took us to some ancient caves near the Tigris River. 

Tigris River

Kenny's Turkish is great so far. Just wait 'til another visit.

Everyone enjoying the view!

Then we had coffee on a deck with another amazing view of the river.

Goats.

children in the village

group shot!

Asia traveling

Samara H. welcoming TCC travelers to Istanbul at the airport. 

Naomi H, Anna Williams, and Samara H. are happy to be reunited again.

Worship on Sunday morning with Julie and Brian Sylvester at the Houston's apartment.

Woship was sung in English and so was the message from P. Travis. 

Pray for their Kenny's new sermon series in 1 Cor.

Kindra H. with an amazing spread of Turkish food yummy!

Made with a neighbor-friend and then by herself.

Touring the Hagia Sophia (this last one was stolen from Julie's camera)

Public transportation = Bus, taski (taxi) or ferry boat

Brian & Julie Sylvester catching the bus for our Batman flight.

Istanbul is populated by 13 million people! 

Pray for these unreached people.

I know you'll want to see a pictures of Hudson! (Julie's pics again)

Zzzz's in the van.

Spiritual Walking

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

I often find myself exercising more as the weather is warmer, so the past two days I walked around the lakes and was awed by creation yet again. I love seeing the Canadian geese, woodpeckers, squirrels and the tall tress around me - I just had to soak it in. Glorious design by a great Maker! So I stopped midtrack in my jogging and started praying and the verse that has been on my mind recently is Ephesians 5:15. A spiritual walking through our life and He is watching, guiding, our steps throught the Spirit if we ask Him too. The wisdom of God is here in front of us - His word. Father may I become wise in the way I walk, speak and act. May you make the most of my time and continue the work you've begun in me.

Passport time

It's time to get my passport for our trip in March! I'm super excited to be able to visit some dear friends and family of our faith. I'm just getting crunched on time. The tickets are already purchased and I have no passport.
John is making several trips to Dayton regularly and he is getting more and more eager to move there. He and I are trying to pray often together and this time is so precious to me. I enjoy seeing him read a lot and it pushes me to want to read more. More aspirations include reading fiction this year, memorizing scripture, doing more outdoor activities, hiking, camping, or whatever that may look like. Our dear friends are expecting there first child - I am ecstatic for them. And as we approach the time to move I get a little sad and a little excited. The memories made here will last and so will the new ones we will be making.

tis the season

Well I cannot believe it's December 2010! As I was writing the date several times at work my pen kept wanting to write "11" (november) I still cannot get over it.
John and I are going to be celebrating our 6 month anniversary on the 18th - also my birthday! Yay I love my sweetie.
I made a couple of my presents this year for my family. Using iron-on stuff for fabric and I just made some yummy cinnamon rolls! I however did not make John's gift as I have in the past. We have a small tree from Michael's and hope to have a big tree when we live in Dayton next year.
We are also excited to go with our church TCC to a mission trip in March 2011! Yay John and I both haven't been together overseas yet. I'm really looking forward to it. As are our friends Julie and Travis Williams. I love the idea of keeping our heart focused on Christ's coming this season and looking forward to being with my family in 4 days! What a time of celebration this will be as we haven't been united since our wedding in June. I think Andrea just said she's putting up the tree and lights on the house. I cannot wait to be back. And I'm definitely going to La Casita once!
And 'tis the season to Live for Him.

Lately

Tomorrow I'll be attempting to cook my first turkey. I'm going to try several ideas, I'll be using an oven bag and suggestions from the Trader Joe's website on roasting a turkey and combine them we'll see what happens. I heard it's harder than it looks.
I've been happily making plans to prepare a meal with my friend Lindsey Davis. She also has amazing talents of cooking! We already know we'll have plenty of food and leftovers. I made really cute invitations with a turkey on them and the back states "Turkey fellowship at the Popes'" when and where etc - who needs Martha Stewart when I have my own creative ideas right? Well, I still like her websites on scrap-booking and her other inventive crafts.
John and I purchased a table today from Lowe's it's a folding six foot table. Yay for more celebrations and hospitality in our near future.
John and I recently traveled to Dayton in a four seater plane. It was really amazing. I love seeing the states this way. And by far love by passing the terminal, security and traffic at RDU. We just pop ourselves in our seats. Jack and his wife Ashley are so generous in helping our church plant from the very start. God has blessed us beyond measure. John preached on Sunday at Kionos, he stated that God has one mission not missions and we get to be part of that!
John and I went to Harry Potter last night. I was actually pretty scared at the scenes especially when the snake pops out. John is so sweet at any movie he'll let me hold his hand through the entire movie. I feel like his one and only princess.

note on ibuprofen

So I was told by a fellow nurse the other day: "you should give food when administering ibuprofen" who knew! I'm now educated, ibuprofen potential gastric bleeding. check.

I did apply to the fifth floor RN position, a pediatric unit. Tomorrow will be my first dayshift at the new computer documentation - Caredoc I hope all goes smoothly John reminds me just pray.
I just recently re-learned that Jesus prays on our behalf. Romans 8:27 "and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." I am so thankful for His intercession, Jesus knows what's best for his saints.

Life on the 8th Floor of Duke Hospital

Duke huddle previous week: CareDoc Go Live Week! (Interpretation: all nursing staff will have new computer documentation.) I guess it's not so bad but I've only done on shift so far. There's tricky icons, and ways in which you could do excessive charting.
God has been gracious to help me find some friends among the staff. People of opened up to me when I least expect it. I also like John's model of remembering what's going on in their lives to allow them to know I care about them more than superficial stuff at work.
I took care of a patient the other night and their heart rate increased to the 160's! Most people regular rate is 60-80's/per minute. However the patient become stable enough to stay on our floor but God is gracious to provide the care I can give her through Him. My mom has said that He uses our hands! I am also reminded that Christ is the ultimate Physician.
Then to top of the night we had a code, my heart starts racing whenever that alarm goes off! EVIDENCE OF GRACE: another patient had pretty poor color (by that I mean blue) I couldn't see much of this patient's breathing , and someone tried getting a pulse rate, so after our charge nurse started doing compressions I also helped out doing compressions - then the patient started breathing on their own again while the respiratory therapist was on the verge of intubation...wow cool the patient's color came back! Then because this patient was not able to get the intensive monitoring they need this patient went to the MICU which is right around the corner from our unit...lucky us huh.
If you can remember to pray that John and I are a light and illuminate sketchy places of unbelief in peoples hearts if God is willing at my work picnic on Sunday. :-)

Ohio is on the radar

John and I have been praying about church planting and Ohio is a place of unchurched people. There was a pastor who said, "If all the people in Columbus, Ohio decided to attend church one Sunday there wouldn't be enough churches to hold them!"
John prayed we don't loose site of spreading the gospel here and now but his heart's desire is to start church planting in Dayton Ohio. Here where University of Dayton is located.
I also noticed Dayton is located in southern Ohio which means a little warmer weather. Well just a little!
We have a meeting with the Southern Baptist Convention and our Pastor Sean will be in attendance. Be in prayer as we seek others counsel and most of all we are trusting that God is working for our good.