Almost Half-Way

        
  In three short weeks, me and my baby will be at the half-way mark until we get to meet face to face. It's very exciting and I look forward to that wonderful day with all the joy and love inside me. This baby is going to be so special, wonderful, and one of the biggest blessings in Jaron's life and my life. I cannot believe how a year ago I was desperately longing to start a family but both Jaron and I chose to wait until we felt God was leading in this area. How hard that wait was too! But here we are, nearly half-way through and having a very good pregnancy at that! God is good and gracious and knows the perfect timing for His plans to unfold in each life. I look forward to when I'll be posting our first pictures of the wonderful life that now grows inside of me. :)

Tiny Life

Little Baby
Growing inside of me
What will you look like
Who will you be?

I can't wait
To feel you grasp
My fingers with your hand
And hold on tight.

I'll see a world
Of wonder in your eyes
So big and serene
Staring up at me.

A slight grin
Will grow into a smile
Then become laughter
And uncontrolled giggles.

Stretching your toes,
Fingers, and legs out-
Growing oh so fast.
Learning oh so much.

Laying on your back,
Tummy, then crawling;
Mischief filling your steps.
Nothing is safe from you.

Little Baby

Growing inside of me

What will you look like

Who will you be?

Lub Dub Lub Dub

Today was my very first baby appointment. :) After taking down every detail of my family history, I was examined and I was able to hear my precious little baby's heartbeat for the first time! The midwife was able to pick it up almost instantly (whereas that does not always happen this early on). I was thrilled and a huge grin also covered Jaron's face. Our baby has life and is steadily developing into the little person he/she will one day be. I look forward to meeting this tiny person as each day passes. I pray each day that each stage of the development would go as God designed it to go without any issues/complications. I know that I'll give this child all my love no matter what happens or how it looks when it comes. 
May 13th doesn't seem so very far away because I'm enjoying each day that goes by with this special life that continues to grow more each day inside me. I know that I won't always be content...;) I know that in 5 months or so I'll be aching to just be able to hold little Horst in my arms rather than my ginormous belly. ;) But until then, I pray that each stage proves to be a blessing. <3

Explosion on the Home Front

I've been bursting at the seams LONGING to share the beautiful news that Jaron and I are expecting a little Horst Jr. come May!! We both kind of wanted to wait a while to share simply because of complications that can arise, but the very few people we did tell just couldn't keep the great news to themselves, so last night we gave up trying to hide the news. I'm 9 weeks along and very blessed to have life growing inside of me... My first appointment is October 25th and I'm looking forward to hearing my little one's heart beating out the cry that there is in fact life in my womb!! :) Rejoice with me on this glorious news! Also, pray that the pregnancy is healthy and as uncomplicated as possible. 
Blessings!
~Crystal-mom-to-be-Horst

Wisconsin Surprise

This past weekend, Jaron and I made our way out to Wisconsin to visit his family. Little to his brother's knowledge, we planned for a few weeks to surprise him for his birthday--August 2nd, and it certainly worked. He was so pleased to see us when we arrived...and a bit confused...lol. We all had such a fun time together for 3.5 days...walking around Madison, playing games, mini-golfing, eating out, eating in, eating.... lol. It was so nice to have us all together for the first time since December 2008. That's not to say that we haven't seen his parents or his brother since then...it's just not all at once. We had an amazing time altogether and I'll post some pictures from the weekend as soon as Jaron finishes editing the ones he took. 

Until then, here's some pictures that Jaron's mom took:

The gang (excluding Jaron's mom who took the pic)

Jaron and I "sharing" a cinnamon roll at the Farmer's Market that they had in the middle of Madison on Saturday

Jaron's brother, Brad and his girlfriend Kristen eating the Wisconsin's famous Cheese Curds (ie: cheese that squeaks while you're chewing it)

More pics to come...

Treasure Hunt?

So, after three long night shifts in a row (filled with emergencies galore!) I came home last night to a neat surprise from Jaron.... a small note on the front doorknob..... he was sending me on a hunt which took me from one clue to another from the upstairs, to outdoors in our shed, to the basement, and back around and around again. Each place I was sent had another clue as to where to go next... I ended up getting a bag of Reese's (which is every girls' dream!) and a $10 bill to treat myself to dinner somewhere while he was gone at worship team practice. It may not seem like anything amazing to any of you, but for me it meant so much to know he had been thinking about me and planning this throughout the day for me as a way to release the tension I'd been experiencing. It worked. I found myself wondering what the next clue would lead me to in the house... I found myself laughing as the clues revealed inside jokes we share. It was a beautiful and meaningful gesture that helped me relax and leave work AT work.

Sometimes it is the simple things that make the biggest difference in someone's life. Is there anyone you know and care about who needs a simple gesture that shows that you care? Don't be afraid to do it for them! They'll remember it forever!

><>CH

Catching Up

So, this past weekend was just wonderful and spent with many different friends. :) I have so many friends and am so blessed by the fellowship we all share. On Saturday, Jaron and I went out to see a movie with Jeff after which we joined a small group of 4d-ers at the Cline's house for their picnic. In the evening, we (along with many people we knew who went) watched the fireworks display at the Shillington Community Day.








As the thundering booms echoed across the park, I imagined what it must have been like to be at a battlefield with those deafening cracks jolting everyone as they exploded. I'm so proud to live in this country for the heritage that it has is one of strong people standing up for what they know is right and true. Granted that has not stayed the way it was first begun, but I still can't imagine being anywhere else. 
 

Sunday, Jaron and I spent the afternoon at my parents and then the Brown's home for picnicking.

Monday was amazing day spent with just my best friend in Dorney Park. Jaron and I still managed to get toasty despite applying sunscreen. A lot of the day was spent in the water park due to the inferno-temperature records. We still had a great day together and it was well-worth it! An amazing weekend spent with so many friends making one memory after another. I love seeing how each week plays out and look forward to many more throughout the summer. Stay cool everyone!

Dreaming

So, you are probably getting the drift that one of my biggest dreams is to be a mom. My heart swells with the thought of someone growing inside of me for 9 months and a smile always comes to my face when thinking about the beautiful aspects of motherhood. People tell me to enjoy being in the season I am currently living in (and I certainly am) and not wish for things to change because it will happen when it happens and there will be no turning back. Ok, please tell me I am not the only one with dreams and a desire for some kind of change? Certainly this will be the biggest change I will ever experience, but it will be so amazing and beautiful. Through being a mother, I will be experiences one season after another of my child(ren)'s life(lives) that I can not think of anything more exciting! So many future moms have such a negative aspect on motherhood that it saddens me to think that they are putting a dark cloud over a very remarkable time of their lives before even having the experience of it!  I know that I also need to be realistic and not just fanciful about the very serious side of motherhood, but that portion does not need to crush any and all joy in the different seasons! Infants will cause sleepless nights, toddlers will get into things and keep you on your toes, teenagers will drive you crazy... but it's going to be completely amazing too! I can't wait!! :-D

Baby Talk

Can't a girl just look forward to starting a family without people saying discouraging things like: "Well, if you think you're stressed now, just wait to you have kids--it'll be like all the time!" Really? No rewards? Just work, stress, work, stress....?? I have looked forward to starting a family for soooo many years and know how big a job it is going to be when God blesses Jaron and I in that area! I know it is not always going to be like looking through rose-colored glasses. I don't need to be reminded of how difficult it is going to be to raise children every time I open my mouth about the excitement I feel when I think about the future. I look forward to the blessing of having children and discouraging comments won't ever stifle that desire! :)  I try to see the glass half-full when I think about the fun aspects of motherhood: taking them to the park, watching them innocently fumble to learn the English language (that no one will ever master!), playing with them and their rubber duckies in the tub during bath time, reading them bedtime stories at night, singing them to sleep, joining them in coloring/play-do/painting, seeing them laugh for the first time, and so much more. I know it is going to be work, but it will be a lasting reward too! :) 

This Love

Jaron and I will be married for two years already come August! It's amazing that the time has gone by as quickly as it has. The assumption is that the first five years of marriage are the hardest.... so far, not true in our case! We have so much fun and so much laughter in our relationship that when the "tough stuff" comes, we can lean on each other and God to get us through and the tension melts. We enjoy the simple things in life and don't have to go on trips to "make our marriage blossom". We enjoy things like going for walks in the cool of the night, walks in the park, sitting and watching movies/tv shows (on DVD), making dinner together, sitting and editing Jaron's pictures together, a cheap dinner at McDonalds/Taco Bell/etc, and the list goes on. Those are the things that bring us closer to each day by day. I love him more each day because he is not only my husband...he's my very best friend and closest confidant. Nothing will change that. Ever. When we start a family, sure that will bring stress/tension but with the love we share, we will become closer through those times (and we'll have cute kids to show for it!). :)

Love you, Jaron-- you're the best!

Honeymoon 2008

 

           Valentine's Day 2009     

Spring 2009

                                       Fall 2009

            

  Winter 2009           

 Spring 2010

Random Fun!

Sunday Afternoon

So, today Jaron and I went to my parents' house after church to celebrate Father's Day (since several family members won't be around on the actual Father's Day) and we all had an enjoyable time together. It struck me that come December there will be a new addition to our loud and rowdy crew. What fun! I love my family (and additions that Ginny and I have added to it with our husbands) and it makes for such a great time when we're all together. Family is so important and just adds so much love and laughter to our lives. Take time to thank God for your families today!
~FroggyC