There is a season turn, turn, turn...

My parents raised me listening to all different types of music. That is perhaps why, if you listened to the music on my phone, you would hear things ranging from George Jones to Lulu to Lady Gaga and on and on. So, when trying to determine what to title this post, with all that is going on...the song Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds came to mind. I was familiar with the song long before I realized it was actually taken from the Bible. Seems fitting since I ended up working in a church. The song was taken from the Book of Ecclesiastes, though some words were rearranged for the song.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

I bought this poster at one of the poster sales in college and it is still in my office today!

So, I have a lot to update you on. I want to start with the heavy and then move into lighter and more upbeat things.

I met Sunday Ibok my freshman year of college. He had a larger than life personality and a smile that lit up the room. We instantly formed a bond. Sadly (keeping a long story short) we drifted apart, but with the help of facebook have at least kept up with what is going on in each other's lives. I was shocked and saddened when I logged into facebook yesterday to see an update on Sunday...While in Dallas celebrating his 31st birthday and visiting family and friends, Sunday suffered a brain aneurysm on Sunday evening. He was declared brain dead just before 6 pm Monday evening and is still in a coma right now. The prognosis doesn't look good, but if you check out his facebook page, you will notice the amount of lives that he has touched with their tributes. My prayers go out to him and to his family including his mother and many siblings (of which he is the oldest).

This picture is Sunday & I at my sorority banquet my freshman year (nearly 11 years ago).

This is a picture that someone else posted on facebook and it truly captures Sunday's personality.

Life can be short, so hug those you love!

The next thing I want to update you on is my new office. That's right...after 7 years in the same office, I have a new one. The church created a new creative department and since our former offices were located right in the middle of the building, they thought that would be a good place for this new department to be housed so that every department could easily get to them. Makes sense. So, we are now off the beaten path so to speak, but I am absolutely in love with my new space. The only thing I would change if I could is the wall color. Prison grey is not my favorite color, but I can handle it.

This is the view when I first open the door. Notice the window. I didn't have one in my old office.

This picture is of the neat built-in book shelf I have. I separated the books into kid and a dult books. Take note of the pink hard hat on the bottom shelf. While the children's ministry area was under construction during the summer, we needed to be safe when checking out the progress. Of course, we didn't have to sacrifice cuteness in the process!

This picture isn't super-exciting, but I have a large dry erase board. I initially thought I would have it taken down, but then Peyton came in and immediately started drawing. Peyton's mom Andi has the office next door to mine. She is an adorable 5 year old full of energy! She asks me everyday if the baby has come yet! HA! I also keep a stock of candy to keep her coming back. So, she wrote her name and drew a picture of her, followed by my name and a picture of me and then ended with Lyla's name and a picture of her. I LOVE it and now I don't want to erase it! I think I'll keep the dry erase board.

Thought I should include the view whilst sitting at my desk.

Remember that window I talked about earlier??? Well from that window, I have a peek-a-boo view of the Columbarium. Last year, the church constructed a final resting place for those that wish to be at HPUMC. There is a beautiful fountain that I love to listen to. I am also right above one of the playgrounds, so at various times throughout the day, I can hear the preschool kids playing. Sidenote: At the present time, there is a toddler screaming as if someone has taken his favorite toy.

Last, but not least in the selection of office pictures is my cross wall. I started the cross wall in college and have continued to add to it over the years. Most are gifts. I have picked up some along the way that I deem unique and not seen just anywhere (like the cross made of boots). Two are necklaces that I received after serving in the church choir at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest while in Abilene. One is very fragile and was given on Palm Sunday my senior year at that same church. I have gingerly taken it from place to place and it has a home on the wall of crosses. These crosses have been through many seasons and I love looking at them and remembering where and who they came from.

Now to the part everyone has been waiting for...the update on preparing for Lyla!

Last Saturday, we got in the car at 8am en route to Medical City Hospital, where we were registered for the Preparation for Childbirth class. Neither one of us were particularly looking forward to it as it was a Saturday. We're supposed to be watching football on Saturday (luckily the Longhorns weren't playing). Also, we knew it was an 8 hour class and that sounded daunting...and it was! It started with about a 3 1/2 hour PowerPoint presentation taking us from checking into the hospital all the way through the first few weeks at home. We got to watch a video of one couple's journey from the start of labor to the birth of their baby. The mother in the video went all natural. YIKES! In the afternoon, we took a tour and had some activities that actually got us out of our seats.

We played a game...well we love games. We tied with another couple as winners. Here is our prize!

Not the prize we are used to, but I think they'll come in handy!

Now, I'd like to introduce you to a new family member...

Hahaha! This is Mini Baby Patyrak...she has an interesting look to her, but we still love her. She is inflatable and here is how you fill her up...

If you notice a white tube coming from the right cheek of her bottom, you will see the tube used to fill her up. I'm not sure the hiney is the best location, but there were more than just a few chuckles in the room of grown-ups about that.

Mini Baby was given to us to practice infant CPR. It wasn't a certification course, but we did watch a video and practice the appropriate moves. You are supposed to press down until you hear the click. Well, we were left wondering if we actually had to practice infant CPR, will we hear the click??? In all seriousness, it is an important thing to know should you need to use it, so I'm glad we got to take the entire kit with us including Mini Baby and the video.

Also during the class, we practiced swaddling and changing a diaper. It was definitely information overload and I'm glad that all the information will be repeated as we are are actually going through the process.

Next is an update on the nursery. The crib is still in the box and we are going shopping for a dresser this weekend. After that, we can start emptying out the closet...

We did get a glider from a friend's garage sale though.

My mom is going to recover the cushions for me. You probably can't tell, but he fabric is not only pretty dirty, but it is little bunnies and that simply doesn't go with the theme of Lyla's room.

We are both in shock that we getting so close to Lyla's arrival and we can't wait to meet her!

So, I know what you've all been waiting for is an updated belly pic and I will not disappoint. As of Saturday, September 24, I was 30 weeks. Here we are!

...and HOOK 'EM HORNS!

My next update will hopefully include my journey through the great State Fair of Texas which opens this coming Friday. I am anxiously awaiting the glucose test results as I have been really looking forward to my annual State Fair cinnamon roll and this year's new fried treat...Fried Autumn Pie! Keep your fingers crossed!

Thanks for reading!