Bountiful Blessings Week

This week was filled with blessings and "showers" of gifts from friends and family. We started with our Faith PCA small group on Tuesday night. Each week, we rotate homes where we all have dinner together and pray together for each other. Usually, on Sunday nights, we receive an email from the host who lists what is needed to make dinner complete by Tuesday. I had volunteered to make brownies since I'd not volunteered for dessert in quite some time. There was quickly an email from Sara Marsh asking if it was okay that I not bring dessert because she had made an "extra" cake on Sunday. Now, if you were competing with a friend who was in culinary school, you'd bow out gracefully as well with your Martha White brownie in a bag mix. I didn't think anything of it. And so, Tuesday night, we got into the car and headed to the Adams at exactly 7:00 p.m. Big Philip said "we're always first so why don't I fill up the car?" Since it was exactly 7:00 p.m. I suggested we do it afterwards. He then said he had forgotten the prayer book and had to turn back to the house. Still oblivious, I assume Philip has had a busy day like me. We get to the Adams and find a beautiful bouquet of pink roses, a yummy chocolate mocha cake with Baby Helen's initials and a very generous gift from the group to help us get ready for Helen's arrival. Once again, Big Philip keeps a secret like a charm. Thank you friends!

Surprise number two came on Friday. Our transmission on our minivan is on the fritz (big prayer that it is nothing serious, we'll find out Monday) so we were trying very hard not to drive the van on Friday until the service technician was back in the office on Monday. I had a haircut appointment at 9:45 on Friday but I was also bringing a meal to a friend from church who just had a baby. The plan was for me to get my haircut, bring the meal to the friend, and return to work by 12:30. Big Philip's normal 8:00 a.m. Friday teleconference staff meeting was cancelled so he volunteered to take Little Philip to school, allowing me to take the meal before my haircut and still make it to work by 11:00 a.m. Good thing, because at noon we all gathered to eat together in the conference room where I found pink and green balloons, a yummy carrot cake, and bountiful baby presents from all my wonderful colleagues. I haven't even had a chance to clear out a closet for Baby Helen so for now, these wonderful gifts are sitting in Helen's crib. If I had missed that on Friday, I never would have forgiven myself. And again, I found out Philip was behind my ability to be there on time. Another secret, saved by my hubby! Thank you BSC Student Affairs family!

Finally, on Sunday, Aunt Lizzy and Aunt Ellen brought over their beautiful artwork to hang in Little Philip and Helen's room. It is absolutely perfect. Little Philip immediately went to get his dump truck pillow to show that it matched the dump truck painting by his Aunt Lizzy. When we hung them on the wall, he was very upset that he could not carry them around with him, presumably, even taking them to bed with him for the night. He was so excited, he would not even look at the camera for his picture. Aunt Lizzy also painted Helen's three wooden initials pink and green plaid and polka dot. We are going to find some hot pink ribbon to hang them over her crib.

It is finally sinking in that we have a baby on the way and very soon! Thanks to the generosity of family and friends, we are finally feeling ready to welcome baby girl into the world!