MollyMadonna.com

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countdown worthy.

280 days. That’s where it all began, with 280 days we thought would just be average. And now? Today marks 101 days ’til Baby K is scheduled to make an appearance–179 days into the gig and winding down to double digits in a mere 26ish hours. Crazy how time flies? I think so.

Like other monumental things in life: your wedding day, graduation, moving day, the start of a new job, that dream vacation, this feels utterly and completely worthy of a countdown. (You’ve probably noticed the little ticker in my sidebar by now:) And why not? When the anticipation of something is SO great, counting down the days (or sleeps) gives us the opportunity to feel like active participants in the process while we’re waiting.

Yesterday, I was pondering the 102 days we had to go and decided to put myself up to a little challenge. Of all of the seasons in my life thus far, this is certainly one of them I want to capture well. As such, I’m committing to these last 100 days of pregnancy with a blog post–one for each day until the little one gets here. Now, a little fine print. Baby might not quite be here in 100 days, or he or she might come a little early. I’d like to go so far as to think I can blog in labor, but only time will tell. And every post might have some aspect of baby woven into it, but I’d also like to think I’ll have more to say about other things between now and then, too. Soooooo, here’s the deal. 100 days give or take (starting tomorrow), and 100 posts. Think I can do it? Will you help me?

If you love something here in the next 100 days, I’d love to know about it. And if you’d like to hear about a specific topic, please make me aware of that as well. Critiques? Go for it. Yep, I’m more emotionally charged as of late, but I’d like to consider this time as a fine-tuning, honing-in and defining sort of season for good old mollymadonna.com, and I’d love your help. Please be honest.

K. Here’s to this next challenge, and hopefully, to a great adventure in writing and blogging. More tomorrow, because I promised…

For today: find the thing in your life at this moment that deserves a countdown–even if it’s an upcoming date night or your favorite author’s next release. And let me know what you’re counting down to. We’ll do this together!

10o more to go 🙂

mm

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10 for ’10.

I realize that we’re already three (maybe 4 when this posts) days into the new year, but I’d feel remiss not to at least pay homage to the 365 days that made up the whirlwind that was 2010. Like most writers are wont to do around January 1st, I’m going to do my best to mix it up a little bit around here in the days to come, and to commit to more writing simply because it’s what I love to do. To begin…ten things I loved about 2010 (in chronological order):

1. On Jan. 1st, 2010, I received an email that would eventually change my worldview, again. It was an invitation to India, and 23 days later, I was on an airplane. Along with 10 others, I spent 12 days traveling to Vijayawada, Hyderabad and Mumbai, witnessed God changing lives right in front of me, and experienced the power of worship in beautiful new ways. I’ll never forget it.

2. Upon my return from India, Jason and I spent a weekend away at Family Life’s Weekend to Remember. We stayed at one of our favorite hotels, spent the weekend focused on our marriage and the things that God is doing in our lives as a couple, and  renewed our commitments to each other as husband and wife. I was so grateful for this focused time away, and it was a great opportunity for us to love better than we have before. I really do love being a wife, and I’m really blessed by Jason.

3. In March, we celebrated 3 years of being married. It seems like time is flying by, as we now round the corner on #4. We have been so blessed, in good times and in hard ones, and we’ve learned a lot about God, ourselves, and each other.

4. April provided an opportunity for me to study to become a doula/birth assistant in Ann Arbor, and to continue a journey that began during our time in Africa. I loved soaking up all of the information I learned through DONA’s training, and I’ve loved the process ever since.

5. In May, I witnessed my first birth–the precious babe of a dear, dear friend. It was so humbling to watch another human being take her first breath, and to be included in this miraculous process was an incredible gift. I was fortunate enough to count two more births in the summer months, and babies two and three were also amazing and life changing, each in their own ways.

6. I turned 28. Yep, 28. A year so full of wonder that I could hardly have anticipated then–and I still have 5 months to go!

7. We found out we’re going to be parents. To a little baby:) I found out on August 29th, and waited to tell Jason until the following day. Then, we kept it to ourselves for a while to soak it in before sharing the news with family a few weeks later. Keeping the secret was blissful and torturous at the same time. It was wonderful to have the tiny little miracle all to ourselves, but it’s been such great fun to share in the joy with others since.

8. We traveled to D.C. A last minute getaway over Labor Day weekend, J and I escaped to the capitol city for some much needed R & R. We walked a gagillion miles, admired art, took funny photos, ate our fill of great food, wandered shops and learned what I was going to feel like in my first trimester. Looking back, I’m so grateful that this trip timed itself as it did. Loved every minute!

9. We saw Baby K for the first time. And the second. At nine weeks we got to take a little peek, and at the time, our first born was the size of a peanut in its shell. He or she appropriately adopted the moniker “peanut,” and we’ve been smitten ever since. At 19 weeks, we saw the kiddo in full force. Hands and feet, fingers and toes, chambers of a beating heart, brain, kidneys, umbilical cord and looooong legs (nope, definitely not mine:). My favorite parts to ogle now are the teeny tiny nose we have on film and the little chin that goes with it. I am so in love I can hardly stand it. 16.5ish weeks until we snuggle the little babe!

10. New Year’s Eve. Period. One of my VERY favorite days of 2010. I’ll detail more of this later, but it was completely red letter and sooooo necessary. How could we go wrong in downtown Chicago with a great hotel and view, yummy dinner, tickets to WICKED, shopping at Macy’s and a balloon drop at midnight? What a way to ring in a new year!

All in all, it’s far easier to remember the good in the year than anything that might have been less than great. This list could surely go on, but to me, it’s at least a great snapshot. And I didn’t want to forget. Nope, not at all.

Here’s to another year with more joyful memories in the making. Oh, what a delight it will be to watch it all unfold!

refreshed,

mm

 

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a safe place

Sometimes, you just need a safe place to land–like a friend’s couch, a good coffee shop at the end of the day, a blog post. What makes it safe? Your level of comfort with it, and your ability to be yourself within its context, whatever that might be.

After a long day today, I needed a safe place to land and found it in a few, blessed, unplanned places–not the least of which is this space right here. When I share thoughts here, no matter how general or personal, I consider it a safe place. I don’t feel this way because it’s a private journal; anyone could Google me and find this blog. I know when I write and subsequently hit the “publish” button that my thoughts are no longer silent, quiet ones, but ones I’ve exposed to others for their consideration, perusing, digesting, disdain or delight (well…hopefully, not their disdain, let’s be honest).

And perhaps that’s why it feels “safe” to me. Not because I’m not risking something by writing here. Ideally, I’m taking risks in a positive vein every time I write and make it public. It’s “safe” because I choose to share what I need/want/feel compelled to share in any given space and time, and then I place it out there, somewhere in the mix of all that’s swirling. And I do this with the intention of cultivating thoughts and conversations, relationships and a transparency that somehow make us all a little more introspective, vulnerable and real with ourselves and with one another. I know I won’t always achieve this, but already, you are helping me to do this one day at a time–through your comments and emails, and in conversations when we intersect in everyday life. Thank you. Thank you for helping to make this a safe place. It ought to be. And it will be, as long as I have anything to say about it. 🙂

To comfy couches, carefully crafted lattes, friends and this. I love landing here…

mm

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a most gracious hostess

This week, Jodi from jodimichelle.com has been in the throes of moving her adorably outgoing and adventurous family from their home on the south side of town into a temporary apartment. She and hubby, Aaron, are in the process of building a lovely new home, and are acclimating to life only a stone’s throw from downtown Holland until their new place is complete in a few months. In the meantime, Jodi’s had a lot on her hands…a garage sale, packing, juggling kids, getting crafty, celebrating Summer–you know, the things you do when you’re a young mom.

Being the smart cookie that she is, and knowing that this month would be jam-packed with activity, she graciously invited some of us to guest post on her amazingly entertaining, insightful, honest, variety-filled blog. I’m honored to be in her company, and with her, the company of one of my other favorite people, Rebekah. To catch all three of us at once, visit Jodi and catch a glimpse of why I’m so blessed by these two women. My topic of choice for a little blog moonlighting, “Everything’s Amazing and Nobody’s Happy.” I’ve been learning a good lesson ever since watching the You Tube video by the same name…

Here’s to hosting and being hosted!

mm

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12:42am

it’s 12:42am, and i’m exhausted, but wide awake. been through every emotion possible in the past 48 hours. i’ve just poured myself a glass of milk and retrieved two double stuffed oreos from the pantry. i never eat oreos. what this says about the space i’m in at the moment, i’m not even sure. just felt like being honest and a tiny bit vulnerable at this crazy hour.

off to dunk cookies and find a forgiving pillow. mm