Wonderful News

We are thrilled to announce that in June our family will have a new member! We are pregnant! :) At 12 5/7 weeks Little One is as big as a peach - 3 inches long! :) We heard his/her heartbeat today - it's real, not just something that people tell us is in there. :)

Our baby has all of its life-sustaining parts (heart, organs, intestines ect.) but is continuing to grow stronger (we don't want to see you yet Little One! :) Keep growing!) and grow into his/her head, which is half the size of it's body right now . Little One has fingers and toes that are defined and no longer webbed (like a duck). He/She has working joints (elbows, knees, ect) and fingernails. Highlight: this week it's vocal chords are forming..... I am sure there will be points in my life I love that he/she has vocal chords (like when he/she says "mama" - which is going to be before "dada" :) - and words like, "please" or "thank you" and "I love you") and times that I wish it didn't (like when it talks back - I have been told by Brad's family to get ready for this, but I know I contributed some stubborn genes too :) ).

I have been feeling great - no morning sickness at all. There have been a few times when I have not wanted to finish dinner because my appetite has left me, but I can't complain! Health has been a huge blessing over the past few months as I have been working hard at school (almost done!) and I have been able keep up working. I graduate in 11 days, picking up my cap and gown today made it seem real.... time flies! As of now, I haven't been able to devote much time to thoughts about baby stuff - but once I turn in my last papers next Thursday - my mind is going to be baby, baby and more baby. :)

We are so very excited and are thrilled to be able to share this exciting news with you! :) Here are some of the top questions we have been asked lately:

- When are you due? Our official due date is June 10th.

- Are you going to find out the gender? Yes - we both are "be prepared" people, and we want to have the dresser/closet full of gender specific clothes for Little One. We will let you know as soon as we find out if Little One is a boy or a girl.

- Do you care if you have a boy or a girl? Sarah's Answer: "No." Brad's answer: "Of course we care! We would like it to be one or the other." {He makes me laugh :)}

- Do you have a "mother's intuition" about the gender? Well, when both Brad and I picture having a baby around, we envision a little girl. But we have no experience or factual data to back that up. We will see... :)

- Do you have a name picked out? Yes we do, both a girl name and a boy name. But sorry - Little One's name is going to be a secret until it is born.

Let us know if you have any others! :)

You did what?!?!

The title of this post is reflective of your thoughts after you read the following.

What do you get if you put together:

1 dvd of a crackling fire
1 Chris Tomlin Christmas CD
1 Sarah Kidder
1 Brad Kidder
2 boxes of decorations

= 1 assembled Christmas Tree

That is right - we are crazy. It is November 9th and we have put up our tree. We held back though - we left the egg nog in the frige. :)

Brad asked me if we could set up our tree - then challenged another couple in our small group to see who could set up their tree first. It was Kruskas vs. Kidders. At that point I couldn't say no - anyone who knows me is aware that I get a little competitive when it comes to challenges or games.

I think Amy told Matt (the Kruska's) that they couldn't put up the tree until the house was clean (I gather this from a facebook status update). I told Brad a similar story - "Please assemble my new bookcase, I will do laundry and put the house back together after a fun weekend and then we can set up the tree."

Needless to say, the Kruska's won. :) We recieved a text message from Matt with a picture of their beautiful tree. Congratulations Kruskas - I am glad we aren't the only crazies in Chicago. We will back you up when they tease us at small group on Tuesday. Thanks for the healthy competion.

(Pictures coming soon of both the bookcase and the tree)

New Camera/Fall Fun

Hello all,

My dear husband could not wait to give me my birthday present - so he didn't.... but instead gave it to me a few weeks early! A Nikon D 60! I feel almost intimidated at the "amazingness" (I know that is not a word) of the camera - I don't know anything about how to use it, but I am super excited to learn how! If you have any tips, good instructional sites/books - please let me know!

So, because of our new toy, we have quite a few pictures to share with you that will sum up what we have been doing for fun lately.

Brad and I with our Reformation Pumpkins

All carved and lit up! Brad's is on the left, Sarah's the right.

Our Pretty Chloe Cat

My Handsome Hubby

Fun with a flashlight in the dark.... ohhhh we are magic!

Relaxing and Contemplating

Brad and Chloe

Sarah and Chloe

Poor Brad was sick (Swine flu?) for a few days - he is feeling better, but is still feeling tired - we are definitely ready for bed at the end of the day.

So that is a little update - through pictures - of how we have been lately. To quickly sum up that which pictures cannot, I have been busy with school and internship responsibilities (while trying to squeak in camera fun when I can). I can't believe that in a little over 40 days I will be done... It is strange to imagine what life will be like without homework hanging over my head, but I am sure I will find plenty to do! :) This Sunday I am teaching Sunday School in Mary's absence, and to fulfill an internship requirement - pray that I will communicate with clarity.

Thankfully, I have not gotten sick - a wonder since Brad stayed home for four days! Please pray for both of us in this area - Brad's continued healing and my continued health!

We hope you all are well, let us know how we can pray for you over these next few weeks!

Love,

Sarah (for Brad and Chloe)

Hurray for Fall

Well first off I want to apologize for the infrequency with which we have been posting! It probably does not help that Sarah has been doing all the blogging since we started this thing. Well this post changes that, as I Brad am writing a post, Sarah does not even know I am writing this!! Lets see how long it takes her to find out! :)

Over the past few week Sarah and I have been very busy, we made a trip up to Minnesota to visit with Sarah's side of the family, incluiding her Mom and two youngest sisters Laura and Anna! We were blessed to see all of them and amazed at how much the girls have grown!!

The very next weekend we headed to Michigan to visit briefly with my side of the family. It was a great to see all of our friends and family in Michigan and to celebrate, even if it was a week late, my Sister Amy's 21st birthday.

FALL IS HERE!!

I can honestly say that fall is my favorite time of year. I find it so refreshing to step out in the morning to the cool crisp fall air. In the spirit of fall Sarah and I have been on a mission which I like to call "No Utility October" similar to "No Shave November" and other silly made up events. Basically we have vowed that unless the temperature in our Condo nears a point that would kill us or our precious cat Chloe, we will not turn on the heat or the air. I am happy to report that October is almost over and we have survived the month quite comfortably, other than one or two nights where the temp. inside dipped to around 62 :), that's what blankets were made for though right?!!? With all the energy savings from this month I will have to take my sweet wife out to dinner or something to repay her :)

Well that's it for this post!! Though if things go as planned I hope to have pictures of carved pumpkins to post tomorrow :) No worries, these are reformation day pumpkins, not celebrating evil, evil, Halloween or some sort of pagan fall harvest festival. I can't wait until we have kids so they go door to door dressed as Calvin, Luther, Zwingli, Knox, and Huss, shouting: "Indulgence or treat!"

(I am trying to find the Luther Costume Below in a Child's size already!)

Popcorn thoughts

Popcorn Love

So many thoughts, so little time... We love popcorn at the Kidder house, so I thought I would share some popcorn thoughts with you,

• Our weeks are pretty busy with school, work, small group, Awana and friends.
• Sarah's internship is going really well - she is getting lots of ministry experience and learning tons!
• Work is has been good for Brad, his boss has been on vacation for the past few weeks and things have run well in his absence.
• School is keeping Sarah busy, both during the week and on the weekends.
• We realized this morning that our October weekends are booked.
• Awana has started again, we have been averaging 45-50 kids a week! Though, somehow we are more energized after Awana than before. :)
• Our house is coming together, each month we add something new. It feels like home.
• We had an AMAZING weekend in Minnesota last week! Sarah's mom was there with Laura and Anna - we got in a lot of hugs and cuddles.
• Chloe gets stranger as time goes on, we found her lying on her back last night (like a dog). We love her.

What's new with you?

The beginning of the end

When I was little, we read a book called "The Very Last First Time." Its a cute book about a little Eskimo girl who goes and searches for Mussels when the tide is out. She knows as she is setting off on her adventure that she will never do it again for the first time. I have been feeling kind of like this. Except I am beginning the end.

Tomorrow I start the last semester of my Undergraduate education. It is exciting - I am looking forward to completing my degree. It is sad - I do not want to stop learning. And although I know that I will continue learning after school, I can't help but think I will never do it again (at least for the first time). I thank the Lord for the amazing gift of learning, and I pray I will never stop.

We had a great weekend! It was a great mixture of productivity - both inside the house and out - resting together and having fun. There were lattes, steaks, burritos and Oreos. There was alone time and friend time. And there was AMAZING weather. Saturday the high was in the 60s, we opened all the windows and smiled as the fresh breezes wandered through the house. It was wonderful to wake up on Sunday morning and not want to get out of the warm cocoon of bed. Fall is coming - and we are excited.

I posted my spring school schedule on the blog, here is my fall schedule:

(You can click on it to make it bigger) Color coded - as always.... it is a very sectioned off schedule - I think it will work out well. So this next week we will be getting into our fall routine. Brad's schedule is still much more simple than mine - he works 7-3:30 and has small group and Awana with me on Tue and Wed evenings. It is so great to be able to head to work/school together in the morning! And most days I am able to go home with Brad too - with Monday and Fridays being the exceptions.

It is amazing to me that every year - about this time - the great hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is sung at a service I am attending. Most notably, I remember singing it in Fall 2006 when I first came to Moody. We sang it again yesterday at church - what a great reminder that throughout all of our life, God is faithful. He does not change. Through every season. Through every adventure or trial. He is faithful.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

I hope you are reminded of God's amazing faithfulness today - may you have strength for today and a bright hope for tomorrow.

Love,

Sarah

A little birdie has something to say...

I have a new friend in the Dining Room!

Brad found this beautiful buffet at the Salvation Army accross the street from our house! After e-mailing me pictures of it (I was at work) he bought it - a guy from Salvation Army even helped him carry it home - up all three flights of stairs - what a nice guy! We are thrilled.

It is exactly what we wanted to help store our china and glassware - I was even able to fit a bunch of decorating/candle stuff in it too! :) Isn't it beautiful?

And for $60 - how can you go wrong?