The past three months

Pregnancy... nobody tells you just how exhausting it really it! I am not almost 15 weeks and feel as though I have a bit more energy to give to the world. I have been so blessed because my sweet husband was so helpful around the house and showing immense grace when it came to meals, laundry, letting me go to sleep at 8:30 every night... and so much more. All that to say, it has been such an amazing experience.

We have been so busy with life, family and weddings!

Three weeks ago, Cherie and I were real photographers for a wedding... scary! It was rather intimidating and yet very fun! The wedding was at Holy Spirit on Friant and Champlane and the reception was in the Pantry (on the Smittcamp property). She had some great details and looked stunning! It's easy to take pictures when everyone looks so great!

In the last two weeks, we attended 2 weddings of dear friends of ours, Stacey Ridgeway (now Gerbrandt) and Becky Kruse (now Bradley). Staceys wedding was in Paso Robles on a at Robert Hall Winery overlooking a vineyard, it was simple and beautiful! Becky's Wedding was the following weekend in Fresno with the most perfect whether and coolest details (they even served ice cream as dessert!!!). We are so happy for each couple as they begin their new lives together!

The Ridgeway & Gerbrandt Wedding

Becky and Jerrod's Engagement Photos

So what's next??? Well, we are gearing up for a FUN trip to Costa Rica with two other couples, Kris and Breann Cadeaux and Andrew and Denise Feil. Breann is almost 6 months pregnant so I will definitely have a partner to relax with! We will visit Jaco which is a more built up town on the Pacific Ocean and Montezuma which is located on the peninsula and is considered a "hippy surfer town". We plan on getting some R&R!!! Look for pictures soon!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New BABY!!!

Well, as many of you may already know, Jesse and I are expecting... a baby that is! Recently, I have successfully kept three plants alive for multiple months, I have had dogs (on my own) for almost 3 years and we decided that we would give the human thing a try... We feel so blessed that the Lord has entrusted us with one of his children. We found out in Carmel, one of the most special places to us in early April. By our calculations, we were approximately 10 weeks when we told our families. This was difficult for me because at work we have X-Ray and other hazardous things that I have to steer clear from, and therefore, I needed to tell my boss and a few other people at work. This wouldn't have been a problem if I didn't have the pleasure of working with my dad. Therefore it was tell no one or tell everyone. (It is such a difficult balance of when to tell who... where... how...) Anyhow, we decided to tell people, then went to our FIRST ULTRASOUND!!! Yeah!!! We were so blessed to see our special little one's heart beating a million miles a minute right out of his or her little chest. When the technician did the measurements, sure enough 6 1/2 weeks!!!! Yes, they added an entire month to my pregnancy (as I saw it). That put us at a due date of December 22nd... Merry Baby!!!

While we were not trying for a Christmas baby, we felt like the Lord was calling us into a new season of life and didn't want to try to plan everything out to the moment, month and date that we felt like we wanted. We just wanted to rest in His timing and have a healthy baby with 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. All that to say, we are so very excited and hope for a smooth pregnancy.

So far, I have felt pretty good, I have really good days (like today) and some not so good days where I want to crawl into a hole... Saltines, crystal light and my pillow are my best friend!

For those of you who are wondering whether we are going to find out what it is, well, we are following in the footsteps of Blake and Cherie... we are going to wait! My achiever is totally curious, however, it is the one true surprise in this world!

This is how we told my sister... with a cute apron that says Auntie Lolo... for those of you who don't know she is in culinary school in Orange County.
As for the rest of our family, we used a little baby dressed in Jesse's baby clothes with a wrist band that says Baby Penner November 2010 (at the time we thought it would be November). It was really special because we got to tell both sets of Great Grandparents in person!

The fast few months

You may ask where we have been for the past few months... well, it has certainly been busy!!! We have had some great memories including the marriage of our cousin Luke and his new wife Becca. Jesse was one of the best men and I was one of her bridesmaids therefore, it has been a packed couple of months! The wedding was amazing! The weather was BEAUTIFUL... 70 degrees, sunny and spectacular! The wedding had a couple of awesome, one of a kind parts including a grand entrance for the boys on some canoes to Indiana Jones music... and nothing other then the most amazing presentation of the rings ever... the boys cleared the aisle to Mission Impossible where Jesse proceeded to take a key to Blake (now positioned at the end of the aisle handcuffed to a briefcase which holds the rings) where he un-handcuffs Blake, handcuffed his own wrist to the briefcase and walked down the aisle. It was hilarious! The most amazing moment, however was when Luke and Becca were pronounced!!! Yeah!

Vegas Baby!!!

Over Valentines Day weekend we embarked on an adventure to Las Vegas. We had so much fun with Harold and Margie and Blake and Cherie. We went to see Cirque de Soleil "O". It was so amazing!

Thailand...

Thailand was absolutely amazing. There is so much to say about the people, the adventures, the purpose and so much more. Here are a few pictures to depict what we did during our time there. We can't wait to share more with you!!!

Packed and Ready

Well... today was a big day!!! We are finally packed for Thailand. This may seem weird because we still have 10 days, however, I have a full house for the next week... so this is a big accomplishment! And here is some more exciting news... I packed in a carry on!!! Can you believe it??? I am so proud of myself because I have a sleeping bag, blow up mattress and towel in there (which leaves little room for clothes). Today, I finally feel like I can be getting excited for the trip!!! Please be praying for us on our adventures. Specifically that the people that we are serving are able to hear the gospel from us and that they would be blessed by the work that we are doing! Thanks so much!

Allie

What's this season all about???

So... lately at church we have been challenged to double check ourselves and ask what this season is all about... presents, christmas trees, Santa Clause, big parties, shopping, lines, traffic... road rage??? OR is this season about Christ, our Savior who came to this earth as a baby in a manger to die for us on a cross and give us the GIFT of eternal life with him??? It's so hard to balance and, while I am typically not a deep thinker, this one has really challenged my thinking... Hope you have a Christ-filled holiday!