The Race is On

Pappa Jon grilling for beth, levi and me

I dont know what Beth is doing????

AUNT BETH AND LEVI

JON AND I ARE RACING!

OUR NEW HOME IN SALEM, VA



Well I've been asked to post another blog, since im not so speedy with it! Jon and I are staying very busy in Virginia with youth ministry and settleing in. Time is flying by and its hard to believe we will be having a little boy in a couple months. We are trying to get ready, but still need to paint his room, get furniture, ect.. We were attempting to register the other day and as we look like deer caught in headlights, Jon turns to me and says "We dont have a clue what we are doing!" Ha..this is true. I guess part of the fun of being a new parent is figuring things out! Im sure down the road we will laugh at ourselves and this time in life.
My sister Beth has been visiting for the last week. She is planning on moving up here for a change of pace and so she can be the favorate aunt. Her and my mom are already conspiring on how to spoil Levi. Beth interviewed at a hospital here called Memorial and is leaning toward being a labor delivery nurse. She could end up being my nurse! Although I told her that she may not want to do that, since I would feel the freedom to scream at her while in pain!
Some other big news is that my brother and his wife are expecting! I think something is in the water. So that makes 4 babies coming from the Laughinghouse and English Families!
Ive been feeling good for the most part. ALthough the baby likes to kick and do summersaults in my stomach, particularly when i go to bed! Between being hot and being kicked, i have become a night owl! I feel bad because I try to get Jon to move as far away from me at night because im so hot! Then i ask him "is it hot in here to you, did you turn the air off?" I guess i should know hes not hot, bundled up in the blankets. So i try to take a nap during the day if possible! We have another ultrasound at the end of September, so when we get those pictures we will post them! Youth ministry is going great, Jon is doing a great job and loving it. I think sometimes that im going to have 2 kids to take care of =). But he keeps me on my toes. Well we love you all and i will try to post more soon!
Jon and Kristi

It's a BOY!

Jon is brushing up on some Fathering skills
and for being a youth pastor!


ITS A BOY! He probaby wouldnt appreiciate
his parents displaying this picture for everyone!

Pictures from the ultrasound!

New Beginnings

Jon and I have to say that this last couple years has been a wild ride to say the least. Don't ever underestimate God's power or hand in your life. After putting Jon and myself back together, only God knew what was ahead. We were married October 21st of 2006, but it was 2007 that brought us even closer. My grandmother passed away January 11th 2007, the next day our deli (Over the Falls Deli) caught on fire. We remember sitting and watching a place of so many memories and hard work with black billowing smoke pour out of it; it was very surreal. We picked up and assessed the damage. God was watching over because it could have been alot worse! We started the 3 month process of cleaning, painting, reforming the deli. The next week we left to drive for the airport in Charlotte, NC (the tickets were cheaper) in order to fly to Pensicola, FL to go to my grandmothers funeral (Jon was preaching it). It hadnt snowed at all that winter, but that morning we woke up to the ground covered in white. Needlesstosay our car hit a piece of ice and slid off the road into a telephone pole. We made it to Pensicola by the grace of God, but the Lord definitely had our attention. He was teaching us to trust Him and to understand He is in control. After praying for direction we were told about an opening for a youth pastor at a church in Salem, VA. We prayed alot about this and Jon typed up his resume and sent it in. After a couple of weeks Jon was called and told he was no longer being considered for the position. This was very humbling, but God was in control and we would be wherever He wanted us. But both of us couldnt stop feeling in our spirits that FCC was where we were supposed to be. Life continued and we prepared to reopen the deli. A couple weeks later Jon got a call from pastor Ken at FCC. They felt they made a mistake and wanted us to reconsider. We said yes! So that started the interviewing process, along with many other things in our lives. Soon after we reopened the deli and the same day, i found out I was pregnant! I took 6 tests over the next day...i definitely was pregnant. So another journey begins. To make a long story short they asked Jon to come be the youth pastor for Fellowship Community Church in Salem , VA, we sold the deli, found a house in Salem that we love and picked up and moved. We havent had alot of time to let the understanding of a baby coming settle in till recently. We are very excited and found out we will be having a boy! We havent thought of alot of names, but so far my vote is for LEVI. Jon is doing an awesome job at the church, although we dont consider it a job but a calling. We are having alot of fun with the students and are really excited for what is to come! I thought this blog would be a great way to keep everyone updated..i got the idea from my friend Kristen who is also pregnant..i thought i better get on the ball!..Stay tuned.
Jon and Kristi