Lost & Found

It must have been the pregnancy 'sieve brain' that caused me to forget almost every login password that I have ever had use of! Now that I have made the effort to either retrieve them from the depths of my memory bank or count it as lost and set up new ones, sigh, I am finally back into Blogger. This is just a pointer towards the real entry which will appear in the next few days...

Nearly there...

On two accounts...

Our anticipated moving of house date back in May has been put back what seems like a thousand times due to what seems like a thousand different reasons... Determined, diligently we have soldiered on with the renovations despite all the set backs and it finally looks like a house again! One that we should be moving into within the next week!

I must say, I am ready to fold away the ladder, put down the paint brush, hoover up the plaster and dust for good - it's time for this preggy lady to nest and rest!

With only 6 weeks to go before my due date, anticipation is growing as well as my belly! We are so excited and have nearly everything ready for Baby Hack's arrival. We have been so well looked after and blessed beyond measure. We've finished our antenatal classes, which Timo was able to come to and found very eye opening! Good to be prepared!

Here are the latest bump pics...

Holiday in words and pictures

We just had TWO WHOLE WEEKS holiday in The States. After too long on planes and in airports, we finally made it to San Francisco and descended upon the city for the first time at around midnight. We pulled our cases for a good number of blocks, UP hill! Boy, was I glad to get into bed.

After luscious sleep, we went exploring. This is the best thing about holidays - no agenda and lots of time....oh, and my husband all to myself! So we walked and talked and stopped for coffee and taking pictures. We rode on the famous street cars, took in the bustle of Pier 39 and ate fresh dounuts whilst looking out to Alcatraz, once home of mobster Al Capone. Union Square area is also great for shopping, which we did, making the most of the weak dollar!




The next day we picked up our rental car, over the Golden Gate Bridge and drove (the scenic route!) north to Redding. The 'scenic route' was actually intended as so, however we just did not anticipate it taking so long and had to abandon our plan a quarter of the way along in favour of the speed of the highway. We still got to see some of the coast and drive through the winelands though, which was definitely worth it!




Our time in Redding was for two things - firstly a Leaders Conference at Bethel Church and secondly catching up with friends, some of whom we hadn't seen in three or so years. Neither disappointed. Redding itself was a pleasant surprise to me. Whilst the town itself doesn't have a lot going on, it's surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes. We got a chance to visit a friend (of a friend) at his mountaintop ranch and look out over the region. It was stunning. We also spent a day at Whiskey Town Lake, a blissful day of sun, relaxation and eating strawberries!





Not content with just holiday snaps, we asked our talented friend Heather to take some photos of us for future publicity things we need to do. She ended up doing a whole photoshoot with baby bump shots and everything! Here are some of the results.








That's all folks!

New News!

Our school of ministry has been and gone...I can't believe it! Our students graduated on Sunday and we sent them off with a bang! They are still living with us so we get to enjoy their company without the pressure of running the school! God has accomplished SO much in their hearts and lives - Timo and I have literally watched in amazement and can just keep thanking Him for His faithfulness as we have stepped out into this new thing. The next school will probably start in January 2009.

So, we have had one day (of freedom) so far, which we spent mostly at the hospital. Nothing sinister I might add...in fact, quite the opposite! We just had to wait a ridiculous amount of time for our 20 week scan. This is the final scan and they are very thorough in checking everything - so the doctor was getting close ups and pointing out it's spine, it's fingers and toes (10 each!), it's kidneys, it's brain, it's heart, even it's mouth and lips!

But, I really shouldn't refer as IT anymore, since yesterday we actually found out that we are having a GIRL!!! We made sure we checked a number of times and the doctor was definitely certainly really really sure!

Look at her, she's so cute!


Can you see her right foot up by her head!? You can even make out her little toes!


SO, now we'll start looking at names and doing some baby shopping! How exciting!

Bigger Bump

These were actually taken on Timo's birthday, 21st March so aren't up-to-the minute bump shots... And I'm told (by my ever-so diplomatic housemates) that in the last week I have become significantly bigger! So, at some point there will be more photos, probably after our next scan in a weeks' time. This is all for now!



And this is just a smile and HELLO from us!

Let's stay together!

I love our togetherness..
When there are words and when there are none,
When there is laughter and through out the tears,
In the busyness, in the stillness,
In the knowing and in the unknown,
We are one.


Timo & I, celebrating Us on our 3 year anniversary!


Happy Anniversary to us (for yesterday!)

Ruth Hack: Choir girl

I think I have found my love in life...

I mean, other than God and Timo and obviously ice-cream!

Today I performed with our Church Choir at a wedding of one of our church members' family. The Choir was discovered and first booked for a wedding after one of our Christmas carol concerts. I had never been a part of the Choir before, because Timo and I have always happened to be out of town for one thing or another at the time of the big events.

This time though, I knew we would be here, because we are right in the middle of the ministry school we are running and have not booked in any other extra ministry or in fact time off in general!

After the first rehearsal I thought, I am not cut out to sing in a choir...I pretty much hear a harmony and sing it...and it's usually NOT what's written on my music, which I have in front of me but ignore! I persevered however, and it was worth it! The practices in themselves have been SO much fun and completely uplifting (when we're all in our right parts, coming in on time and singing the right words!). Really, there are about twenty of us and the sound is no less than magnificent!

Today was the wedding and I loved it! I had to do a solo and duet bit on You Raise Me Up, and it was fab! I have only ever really sung in worship bands before and never considered I could do the whole 'performance' bit...but I actually think it's IN me! Other songs were from Sister Act - Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Oh Happy Day and I Will Follow Him. Every one was up on their feet, clapping and swaying and having fun!

So, this I want to do more of. You can hold me to that and make sure I make it a priority in my life. It brings me JOY! Hurrah!