Christmas in July

Merry Christmas in July! Turns out Nick was a July Christmas present- so Happy Birthday, Nick! And soon there will be another Nick/Nicole running around! Just kidding, those aren't the first names we have picked out! I have to give my friend Kim credit for that, actually she said a little Victor or Nicole...anyway... I've always loved these verses, especially on birthdays when it’s normal to reflect on our lives, and especially when I can't see God's purpose for me: "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” -Psalm 139:13-16 So if anyone is in that place today, be encouraged! All your days are written in God's book. As Theresa once wisely pointed out, the Word is a lamp to our feet so sometimes all we can see is the next step. But God can see the whole path so sometimes all we can do is trust. A friend recently reminded me that God made part of a song I wrote come true for me recently so maybe it could encourage you. I wrote it at a time when I was 30 and nothing seem to be happening in the natural; not a great ministry, career or family but I knew in my heart the character of my God. He was building faith inside of me. I knew He wasn't done yet. The story wasn't over, I just had to wait and not lose heart. There's no happy ending without suspense. There's no victory without a battle. If you want to be a winner, you can't give up like a loser. You have to fight for what you know to be true. The song has never made it to actual music but maybe it will work as a poem: Beyond These Eyes @2006 Victoria Babinetz When you first called to me, the vision was so clear I dropped everything and followed with no fear Now years have come and gone and I can't see the light But I will trust in You and walk by faith, not by sight For I know that my times are in Your hands And I know You will take me to promised lands And I know that Your purpose for me Lies beyond what these eyes can see Now You still call to me, Your voice is crystal clear Your Word says “Stay the course, be strong and have no fear” I will delight in You, stand in Your holy fire And in Your perfect time, I'll see my dreams, see my desire For I know that You set my heart free And I know You will bless me abundantly And I know that Your purpose for me Lies beyond what these eyes can see And someday Your purpose for me Will be where these eyes can see So if your purpose isn't clear right now, just keep walking by faith, and you will see it. "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13

4th of July

Gainesville fireworks are orange and blue- Go Gators! Lunch with Heather Larry and Ruby visiting Purple flowers, my favorite! For the 4th, we watched fireworks at the University of Florida on July 3rd. And who do we run into? Larry and Ruby! They were visiting for his grandmother's 80th birthday. We had them over Saturday to watch our wedding video. We hung out with friends at their pool on the 4th, I love pools. I still haven't been feeling super so I haven't been good with pictures. But I finished the first trimester today (3 months) so they say I should start feeling better. I hope so! I heard the heartbeat on Monday! So I guess it's really happening!

More Hilton Head...

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Nick nedeed some of this for me...read on That's why he's my... Maybe someday this could be me with a little one... I've always wanted to ride one of these but in the water!Look at all those people! We didn't stay that day...Christian putt-putt golf! Hole in one!Church in Hilton Head, they were so nice!NYC, never far from our thoughts! A beautiful park For Elijah and Raina... Brandon and Lauren will be seeing this soon...

(Those are flip flops for traveling, I didn't wear them to church :) )

Hitlon Head, SC and Savannah, GA

Savannah, GeorgiaJohn Wesley preached here I didn't know the Lucas owned a movie theatre... Brandon and Lauren, someone took my name! Georgia was founded on February 12th,

hundreds of years before my birthday! For Phil and Gina, everyone has New Orleans' food!Who knew there was a Rock of Savannah :)?In Hilton Head...Theresa, maybe this is Jake's cousin! For Memorial Day weekend, we drove up to Hilton Head, SC for our first trip out of state together. We had stayed in FLA for the honeymoon. It's hard to believe I have not been on a plane since I flew home from NYC for the last time last March. I used to fly at least twice a year! I love to fly but I've loved being in driving distance to family much better! Nick had gone to Hilton Head right before we got engaged so I wanted to check it out. It is very beautiful with amazing houses and a few nice beaches but is mainly a golf/boating community with a few tourist type things. You could access the beach and then walk past the amazing houses on private property but I didn't get a lot of shots of the houses. The pregnancy thing was starting to hit me. Nick got to experience my first time of getting nauseous in the car or needing to eat NOW! I guess Jenny Craig taught me to try to wait to eat until I am really hungry but Baby Babinetz isn't having it! I have to eat more often now. I am trying to find the balance. If anyone has some good menus/suggestions for eating balanced pregnant(enough, but not too much), please let me know! Well back to Hilton Head, we also played putt-putt golf, walked on the beach a couple times and went to a really sweet church. We also stopped in Savannah, GA on the way which was pretty neat. It seems like part Williamsburg, VA and part New York City! One minutes, you're walking past a horse-drawn carriage by houses built in the 1800's, the next you're ducking traffic! Juliette Lowe created the Girl Scouts there and John Wesley had a church there for a little while. Pretty cool, huh? We liked it. And there were plenty of things on the trip to remind us of you...

Random Things

Thought the ladies might appreciate this...one of my former bosses in NYC sent us a beautiful wedding present of a crystal bowl from Tiffany's! I don't know if you ever received something from Tiffany's but I don't think I ever even went in! The closest I got was seeing the movie, "Sweet Home Alabama"! I do like the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" but now life is more like "Breakfast at the Babinetz's" (well, when Nick cooks, I haven't gotten to breakfast yet!) I don't know if I'll ever have the guts to use it (you know what happens to pots/bowls around here) but it sure looks nice on my shelf with the vases from Theresa and Sofia.

New porch and patio furniture

We decided life was a little too crowded on a queen, so we got a king-sized bed! Great deal at Sam's Club if you're ever looking. It was almost impossible to get upstairs but once again, Nick's friend Damien came to save the day. This pregnant lady wasn't super helpful so we needed him! He always answers the call (or knock at the door) when we're in the middle of some project. It was so hard, we might just sell the bed with the place someday...or toss it out the window to move. Luckily Nick was thinking ahead for a family and got a truck for things like kind-size beds and patio furniture. And it's even a 4-door so we can fit Baby Babinetz's carseat back there. Now if only I would have thought ahead and learned to cook...

Shirley Temple lived here

Nick's uncle took us on a boat ride when we were in New Port Richey. I was falling asleep most of the time (man, this baby is tiring me out, he/she must be growing a lot!) so I didn't take a lot of pictures but I got a few shots.

Baby Babinetz?!?!?!

Happy Father's Day!Surpise!The Willmans

My mom's neighbors and like parents to meThe great grandmothersFirst gift from the Lucas', the baby experts

It's a miracle! I can't really believe that I am actually writing these words but it seems to be official...

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!

I know it happens everyday but this part of life has been such a faith walk for me. During my whole 20's, I had a desire for a family of my own. But there was nothing in the natural to make me think it could ever happen. I spent many years wondering if my dream would come true. My future was in God's hands, the best place it could be. Now I can say there is such a peace in waiting for the perfect timing of God. I have no idea what I am doing but I have total confidence that God will see me through. What better parent to learn from? Nick is a natural but I'm going to need some supernatural help! I've always held onto this verse about Abraham and Sarah. So maybe I'm not 90 like Sarah but sometimes I thought I was going to be! "He (Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform." Romans 4:20-21. I knew that God was able to perform what I believe He put in my heart. I'm just so thankful I had friends like you to help me in trying times to walk by faith and not by sight. Thank you so much!

We made a trip to see our families and tell them in person. I wrapped up little bears with bibs that said, "I love Grandma", "I love Grandpa" and "I love My Aunt". It was so much fun to see the look on their faces when they realized what was going on. My mom was totally shocked but Nick's parents seem to expect it. The two great grandmothers and great aunt teared up and it just meant so much to me to bring a little smile to their faces. Nick is the first cousin on both sides so it's kind of cool. My mom got me tearing up because it just made it seem so real. My mom and I have spent many, many years alone on vacations and other times (with my sister being far away) and I kind of wondered if I would ever be able to give her that news. She was genuinely surprised which was so great.

So now for fun details...I'm 2 months, 7 months to go. I can never figure out all the weeks people always quote. But that's 8 weeks for you experts. That makes my due date January 26, 2009. So we will have quite an anniversary present! Anastasia was born last year on January 27th. Baby Babinetz might share a birthday! Dana, that could save us a lot on joint birthday parties through the next 18 years :)! And Gina, if Little Sunshine goes to the same school, we could carpool! Can you imagine having kids in the same class? I can barely imagine having a child at all! Well, if anyone has some advice, feel free to share. I am all ears! Please pray for us. Thanks!!!

Reunited

Happy Birthday Andrea!

Well it took Andrea's birthday to get the four New York transplants together. I think it's the first time outside of church that the four of us have been in the same room since NYC, a year and a half ago! Way too long but these are some busy ladies. Getting them all together was harder than my job of getting surgeons in a room together! But I perserved and took a picture to prove it's possible. I guess you could say everyone is adjusting well to Florida, they sure have busy social calendars!