GIRL!!!

From Daddy:
Karis Faye Lanier, the name of our soon to be born child has already been a marvelous blessing to us. I can hardly write these words without getting emotional. I am so excited that God has graced (Charis, means grace) us with a child, and a precious girl at that. For a while now, we have speculated with many that we were having a girl. As a matter of fact, God had given me a special confidence that we were having a girl and that she was going to be o.k. during the time of our scare when we thought we had miscarried. I look forward to being "Daddy" to this precious child, on lend from the Lord. Pray that her and Mommy remain healthy and graciously cared for by our Dad.

PS. I know what you may be thinking. Yes, the Kovacs and the Laniers are naming their daughters Karis. It's actually quite funny. We were having dinner with them a couple weeks ago when Shawnda asked us what names we were thinking and we said Silas or Karis and Shawnda's eyes lit up and we knew "You guys are thinking Karis as well, aren't you?" So we had great conversation about all of it and are joyful to be able to share yet another part of our lives with our dear friends.

From Mommy:
Well, I know what many of you are thinking..."I knew it was a girl!" My dad's comment was, "How much did it cost for them to tell you that? I could have told you for free." We had a great dinner with my family tonight and gave them the news by showing them a little girl doll, the first doll that Daddy has bought his little girl. Of course, we are just so excited and love being able to say 'she" instead of "the baby". And we are thrilled to be able to pray for her and call her by name! So, as soon as we fix a couple of computer glitches we are having, we will share our latest ultrasound picture. It was wonderful to see her today, big and healthy and moving all around. Well actually, it took a long time to see if she was a boy or girl because she had her legs completely crossed. The nurse kept saying she was stubborn. We like to say she was being modest...:) So, the nurse left the room and I walked around and jumped around and pushed on my belly a lot to get her to move. And it worked! The doctor came right in and saw it immediately. So exciting!! Also, the other update is that the growth I had was completely undetectable today. They said it's just gone...don't know what it was or why it's not there anymore, or where it went. We know the Lord just healed my body and is keeping our little Karis safe and healthy! So, thanks for celebrating with us!

LAST DAY!!

     Well, today was the LAST DAY for Dee and I both at our jobs.  This brings along a lot of mixed emotions for us.  Let me start with mine... :)  It hit me today around 4:30 when I was driving to the grocery store.  I thought, "I am not going back to school tomorrow...wow!"  Right now, my car is full, literally to the ceiling, of school boxes.  Dee hasn't unpacked it yet and he doesn't realize just how much school stuff I have.  I am a packrat and don't/can't throw away anything.  I really am thankful to be finished with the year.  It was a very stressful position and not very supportive from the administration, professionally or personally.  
     All in all, I feel good about where the students left.  I did all I could with and for them.  They are all really excited about the baby and I promised them updates as well as a picture when the baby is born.  (One student asked, "Mrs. Lanier, could you hold the baby when you take the picture so we can have a picture of you too?"  They can be sweet.)  I left with some good connections with a few of the parents and I think we will stay in touch which I am excited about.  The last day of school was funny as we hit the last 20 minutes of the day before the buses started being called.  One very emotional girl started really crying and it led into a cryfest for about 6 or 7 other students.  By the end, I had 5 girls and 2 boys crying and literally wailing!  They were all laying on me and on the floor and my shirt was soaked with tears.  They can have such sweet hearts.  We had lots of hugs while I had to push them out the door as to not miss their bus.  It was an emotional ending!
     My new thing is a job at my dad's office in Harrisburg.  It's an office/admin position for a subcontractor.  I really do enjoy that kind of work and I start full time there next week.  It's such a change of pace from teaching and I like it!  My plan right now is to stay there until the baby's born.  I'm excited about the job and being closer to my dad while I'm pregnant.
     Speaking of the pregnancy, I'm feeling great and I love the 2nd trimester!  I'm definitely in need of maternity clothes and am going shopping this weekend.  It is a challenge every morning to find something that fits and looks decent.  But I'm doing well.  I go to the doctor tomorrow and then have a checkup with the specialist in 2 weeks, which is when I think we'll be able to find out the gender!  (We think it's a girl.)
     As for Dee, he is excited to be finished with his job, but it also starts the heavy job hunt!  As we all know, searching for jobs can be draining and it is already getting that way.  Please pray for him/us as he is pursuing several different things right now.  It can feel like a big waiting game.
    Our big plan for the rest of this week is the BEACH!  We'll be there with the rest of my family, which is usually lots of fun!  We are eager for the rest and play with them and each other.  
     So here we go on another adventure!