Packing Fun

Boxes, boxes, who's got some boxes??

Packing is in full swing. How is it we acquire so much stuff?? Jarrod and I distinctly remember purging our collection before moving to Louisville, and somehow it seems to have all returned and brought a friend!

Though all the stacking and taping has Simba a bit stressed, Eliaya seems to really enjoy it. Apparently we construct the boxes and pile them up just for her to play with.....

 (Experts agree, the growling must indicate happiness. Eliaya is one happy baby, she growls at everything!)

Priase! Jarrod finished his fall semester this morning! One more class stands between us and FL

We were planning on not decorating for Christmas with the impending move... but we couldn't help ourselves! This is definitely the Reed family's favorite time of year. I'm pretty sure even E likes it, she stands next to the lighted tree for long periods of time (10 minutes is next to eternity for her), just talking and laughing. I'm sure she's plotting how to get around the barricade and attack the presents sitting under the tree.... but so far her schemes have been foiled.

Thanksgiving was a huge success, Jarrod and I cooked... for once everything was edible! I confess, my turkey secret success is fully attributed to pinterest...... guess I can't go on hating it anymore :)  Who would have ever thought of soaking a turkey in water, salt and maple syrup????

Lastly, here are a few more of Eliaya's recent pictures. She's growing so much! 

And Lou teaching us poise :)

1st Christmas as a family of 3! (well, 4. Simba counts too )

Okay, so this last picture is of "chicken crack". It's a buffalo chicken dip, and it's amazing. If you've never had it, you're really missing out! It's now the default 'what should I bring to the party?' food? yumm!!!

Love you all, hope you enjoy this season of celebrating the greatest gift: Jesus.

-the Reeds

ps: hopefully another 1 or 2 editions will come out before the big move... so keep posted!

Movement

"Whoa, watch your step!"   "Don't back up!"    "Careful!"

These are common phrases at our house now. I've decided that a dance class should be part of childbirth / becoming a parent education. Little fingers and toes and a lightening fast little body create quite the obstacle course for our feet to maneuver.  

Eliaya LOVES to climb. She will pull up on the couch cushions and stretch just as fast as her little nails can grip, then after toppling over she'll scurry over to Jarrod's desk where she uses the drawer handles to pull up, all in attempts to get into the swivel chair.

Question: has anyone invented a baby helmet? There's definitely a serious market for one in our home. Prototype in the works. Feel free to send your stock requests :)

Other than Eliaya's latests conquests... our other big news is we are moving back to Florida!!

We, with many of you, had been praying for a few months for God's direction and clarity regarding where we needed to be. Well, God opened the door for Jarrod to work as a civil engineer, where he will be able to finish his hours and sit for his Professional Engineer exam (something we had really wanted to do), as well as continue to take classes through Southern to get his master's of divinity. This really is an awesome bridge for our family, allowing us to accomplish multiple goals at once. Jarrod is excited to venture back into the realm of traffic and surveys.

As of this past Friday, we have a place to move into! (I was a bit stressed on that one..) We are sad to leave the great people we've met here in Louisville, but rejoice that it's not goodbye. What an awesome part of Christian fellowship, it never ends!

Okay, so the packing has begun: it's remarkably different from the last time I packed. Both Eliaya and Simba think boxes are fascinating toys. Though, E has shown Simba up, she crawled through the box first. He still walks around it, afraid of getting trapped inside. Perhaps he has mild PTSD from his Christmas delivery 3 years ago.......

As I type this, Jarrod is DONE with Greek!!!!!! And while he admits he learned a ton and benefited from this class immensely, the Reed household is full of rejoicing over this triumph.

Here are some pictures of Eliaya from the past month.... can't believe how much she's growing!

Getting bundled, it's cold!

sharing with daddy

Reading together

Papa giving us frozen yogurt.... yum!

at the zoo

Well, as I'm typing this... Eliaya has decided that last week was crawling and pulling up, so apparently this week will be "cruising". She's holding on to the couch and walking towards the dog! #walkerbyChristmas? 

In closing, a quote to ponder: “Loss and suffering, joyfully accepted for the kingdom of God, show the supremacy of God’s worth more clearly in the world than all worship and prayer" -John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad

Though my suffering is small in comparison to many, do I suffer well? Does how I deal with loss and disappointment cause others to see the one, true God? Does it move them to worship Him? We know that suffering is part of the Christian life, Jesus told us it was coming. I pray, not that we would suffer more, but suffer effectively. By that I mean that while suffering, we would take joy, peace and encouragement from seeing God's hand through the church (through other's stories of God working), and that our suffering would then produce much fruit. Allowing joy and peace to overflow from our cup into other's who will go through hard times after us.                                

            This is from Jarrod's Greek paper. You should ask him about it! I learned a lot.

 

God is so good. Whatever the circumstances, He is good. Praying for you all, that you might grow more in love with Jesus this week.

Love,

-the Reeds