I've been tagged!

My friend April tagged me yesterday to list seven random things about myself. These are not in any particular order, you know, like the Top Seven Random Things About Kara.....I'm just not that creative this late in pregnancy.

1. I have lived in six different states in the US, and one foreign country in my nearly 39 years:
(And these are in order) Louisiana, New Jersey, Texas, Arkansas, Maryland, and Tennessee
And in 1994 I lived for a semester and taught in Quezaltenango, Guatemala. As a side note, my favorite places to live have been Austin, Searcy, and Knoxville.

2. I love to spell. I always have. I can't add my way out of a box, but I can spell just about anything you ask me to.

3. I am a history nerd. Particularly Russian history.

4. God allowed me to visit 12 countries before Kevin and I married, and one after:
England, Russia, Guatemala, Poland, Ukraine, Finland, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, (well, only technically; we crossed over the "border" on the river while on safari, but the guide told us we'd now been to Namibia) Botswana, South Africa, and then Mexico on our honeymoon. By the way, the trip to Mexico was the only one I did as a "tourist".

5. I've never seen the Grand Canyon. Go figure.

6. My favorite TV shows all involve solving crimes: All three of the CSIs and my newest one is NCIS. And thanks to our DVR, I don't miss them while spending my evenings with my family! :)I can be a TV junkie on my own time. What a plus. :)

7. After all my travels, if I could go anywhere in the world on vacation, I'd choose to go to Disney World in Florida without regard to cost, and not pregnant so I could ride the rides. And with a nanny, or my mom so Kevin and I could enjoy doing some things together as a couple. Actually, I'd like to do all the fun stuff in Orlando. But I'd love, love, love to see Laura meet the Princesses. (No one said these seven things had to be realistic!)

Message from Lindy Grace

Hello, Friends and Family! I know that Mommy tried to put these photos of me on the blog earlier in the week, but she is suffering from something I hear her call "pregnancy insanity", and she forgot to edit her social security number out (whatever that means) when she posted them. Thank you, Miss April, for pointing that out to her. I just wanted to take a minute from my somersaults to say hello to everyone who is eagerly awaiting my arrival and let you know what I've been up to these last 33 weeks. So far, my favorite activities are turning flips under Mommy's ribs and tickling them with my toes. They say that my head is down now, so Mommy can feel my backside resting right under her right ribcage. The thing is, she won't leave me alone! She is constantly poking around to try to feel me and figure out where I am living. I wish she'd just let me be for a little while! I am really looking forward to meeting my big sister Laura. I hear her talking to me and talking to everyone and everything that moves and she sounds very exciting. I hope I'll be able to keep up with her as I grow. Daddy loves to kiss me already, and apparently I look like him because they keep saying how much I already look like Laura. Poor Mommy....all she'll be able to do is claim that she carried us because we'll look so much like Daddy. At least he's really handsome. My favorite foods seem to be pickles, pudding, and macaroni and cheese because those are the things I keep asking Mommy for. Especially the pickles. Vlasic Dill Ovals to be exact. I think they give me the hiccups, though, so we'll have to watch that after I'm born. I can't wait to meet all of you in person in just a few weeks. They say that I'm supposed to be a birthday present for Mommy, since I am due the day before she turns 39 (whatever that means), but I hope I get my own birthday. May seems like a nice month.....I talk to Jesus a lot in here. I know He loves me and you, too. I'm going to get back to my somersaults now. See you soon! Love, Melinda Grace

Family Portraits and Trip to Memphis and Children's Museum

We had our family portraits and Laura's four year portraits done yesterday (April 12) and we were so pleased with them! I can't believe how much our little toddler has grown and matured in just the last year!

Laura is studying the instruments as co-pilot.

Old friends are the best!

Kevin had business in Memphis this week, so Laura and I took a much needed break from Nashville and went to visit dear friends in Memphis while he was working. We had a wonderful time! It is such a blessing to have friends with whom it doesn't matter how long it has been since we saw each other, we just pick up like we never even left off. Charlotte and Doyle Bradsher are that way. Charlotte was one of my Matrons of Honor in our wedding and I cherish her friendship. She and I took Laura to the Children's Museum of Memphis on Thursday. We had a great time there! They have a stage and dress-up area for the children to change clothes and imagine all they want to. That was far and away Laura's favorite place in the museum. She also loved the FedEx 727 body and cockpit. I'm so thankful not to be a pilot! I've never sat in a real pilot's seat before, so I had no idea how many dials and buttons and bells and whistles there are in there! We three girls had a fun day doing that on Thursday and then Friday we did a little bit of shopping and I packed to go home with Kevin. That is my 32 weeks pregnant belly in front of the beautiful azaleas in Charlotte and Doyle's yard.

Too Sweet

I just couldn't resist sharing this precious photo of the two most important people in my life resting peacefully together. Usually Laura wants me to read to her and scratch her back before she goes to sleep at night, but Sunday night she asked for Kevin. What a blessing it is to have the opportunity to get an image like this one. So often I think to myself, "It's no wonder God calls us His children...." when I see myself acting like a four year old in response to life. But He also wants us to trust in Him and rest in His loving care like children. We are blessed beyond measure and I am so grateful. On another note, Lord willing, we are going on Saturday to do Laura's four year portraits and some family shots, so hopefully I'll have some of all of us to post when we're through with that. And also, for our friends in Knoxville, we are planning to be there the weekend of the 25th and can't wait to see everyone there! I love reading blogs from everyone there.....it is like a living link to people we love and miss so dearly. Have a happy Thursday and may you find yourselves resting in our Father's love and grace.