Christmas Eve in Sioux Falls.

Blake and i survived the three weeks apart from when I moved to start my new job at Prairie Hills Cov. Church, and when Blake finished his time at DaVinci.  I think Blake and i are no worse for the ware, but poor little Ben.  He's a bit needier now a days.  He wants lots of pets and hugs and he LOVES spending time outside at our new place!
Our trip from Elgin to Sioux Falls was all too eventful.  The morning started off with Blake backing into a car at our apartment complex...  the owner was outside...  I still don't understand why he didn't move his car when he saw us come in with the big truck, but what ever.  he was gracious and we moved on...  next blake broke the hall light ficture while caring a mattrice out...  then at somepoint he crashed and burned and ripped his pants. 
After some tearful goodbyes (hey i'm pregant, it's allowed) we got on our way.  We made it Madison WI before we needed a potty break.  we did not choose our exit well, and ended up exiting at a very busy part of town with no good place for a 26' truck... so we decided to get back on the highway.... going the wrong direction... then we exited to turn around... on another highway...  finally we got turned around and continued on our way. 
Around WI Dells traffic started slowing down.  Black Ice. Blake in the 26' truck goes to change lanes and he slide.  I freak out. I start slowing down, i slide.  Then we came upon a few accidents...  a 18 wheeler on it's side in the ditch, another car in the ditch, and one flipped in the ditch.  Needless to say i freaked out (again I'm blaming pregnancy).  unfortunatly there was no place to stop until we were in the clear.  so we kept trecking on.
Next I noticed that the rear lights on the Truck went out.  it was all good, i just drove behind Blake... until we get to MN and get pulled over.  GRRR...  The cop reminded Blake that texting in MN was illegal and sent us on our way... how he knew there was texting going on is beyond me... cause at that point i was talking on the phone... speaker... which made the phone line up, but no texting. 
We get back on our way.  it's about 1:30 in the morning.  We are about 5 miles from our destination and i see the flashing lights in my rear view mirror...  I'm thinking they were stopping blake again, because of the lights.  But no, they go around blake and stop me.  I know I wasn't speeding so I didn't know what was up.  Appearently, i had left my brights on through town.  My bad.  I was told to turn off my brights and follow blake because of his lights.  We obeyed.
Blake took the lead.  I told him how to find the drive way to the Hildrings... only i forgot to tell him they have 2 drive ways and we need to take the second one.  He turnes into the first one, misses it and takes his 26' truck through the ditch.  He decided to just gun it because it was too big of a truck to pull out... 
FINALLY at 2 AM we get there.  Tired, stressed, and SO GlAD to be off the road....
Now 4 days later we are almost mostly settled in the house.  Blake got a new job and started yesterday, and we had a good check up for Zoe, and all seems to be good!
We have lots to be Thankful for!
Merry Christmas!

Ahh the changes

The past few weeks has brought a bunch of changes.  I've been settling into being a youth pastor in Sioux Falls, adjusting to FREEZING tempetures, living without my husband, and watching my tummy dance all day long as Zoe does karate in my belly. 

Minus not having blake here, I would say so far so good!  and the best part is I still get to sleep in!!  And believe me, i'm going to take advantage of it while I can!!

so i know I'm not real creative in this post, but I'll fill you in on the changes and craziness of next week...

Tuesday i offically get the new place

Thursday my parents come to take me to omaha

Friday we drive to Omaha so i can fly to chicago via Minnesota

Sat we load the truck in chicago and drive to sioux falls

sunday i teach confirmation

YEAH for craziness!

It's all falling into place

As many know, Blake and I will be moving to sioux falls in about a month (well I will in about 2 weeks) and I am completely amazed at how well the details are coming together. Which is just another confirmation that this is where God wants us and what he has for us. Earlier this week Blake and I found 2 places (a town home and a twin home) that we both really liked. After doing some research and through the kindness of some new friends we found the place we want to live, and the application is sent and the deposit should be there today!

Moving opened a whole new world to blake as to what he wanted to do for his job. So we've been looking for jobs that are a little more in the campish realm and a lot less in the school realm. And it seems we may have found something for him. He has an interview on Sat. 28th for YES (and the CEO of the company wants to meet him... who would have known he was so impressive!)

And that is just the tip of the ice berg! God is good!!

We got a kicker!

Last night Zoe was moving like crazy. i wondered if I'd be able to see her kicking from the out side. So while laying in bed last night I saw my tummy jumping in places that it shouldn't be jumping! So i called Blake in and although he didn't see her kick, he got to feel her kick last night! Exciting stuff! Only it makes me think about that it's cute and a miracle to see her kick now, but in in 2 years if she kicks me in the stomach she will be in trouble!

PS: Not my belly!

New addition

Last Sat. (halloween) we got our first pictures of Zoe... well not the first, but the first ones where she doesn't look like a blob. I thought I'd share!

Here's her foot

Here she is laying on her side. she's looking at you with her big skelton eyes... I think you can see either her hands or knees...

This is a close up of her face. You can see her eye sockets and her nose...


Finally we have her arm!

One of these days I will get some belly pics up. she's 21 weeks in these photo's...

Oh changes....

Once again life is crazy with a long periods of waiting.... Last Sunday I received a phone call from Prairie Hills Covenant Church in Sioux Falls South Dakota. The church voted to ask me to come and be their associate pastor of Youth Ministry. Gladly we accepted their offer. So now that we know what we will be doing and where we will be living next year we can hurry up and wait until it's time to move again.... On the other hand as we wait for the next step in life my belly continues to grow as the little one becomes more human like and cute and snuggely. Saturday... Oct. 31 we will find out who's been taking residence in me these past 20 weeks... as long as the baby corporates!
Since I haven't been working and my sister decided to have a baby, I took advantage of the time I had and drove to NE to kiss sweet little bristol, and spend some time with my family. Then I decided that I should go check out this new boy in my Erin's life... So far he hasn't given me any reason not to like him, but I still have a few questions left to ask! So tomorrow I will make the long trip back to Chicago from KS. It will be nice to be home, but not so nice to begin the process of packing again... Plus I will get to see my puppy again! Oh, and my husband!
Be Blessed my friends and thanks for listening to my story!

summer

This summer has not been everything that I have expected. Not all bad, but defiantly different. I started this summer doing a chaplaincy at Lutheran General Hospital. The experience was priceless, but very difficult. I started the program well, and ended tired, and drained.

We had many changes this summer. For the first time in 4 years I worked a 40+ hour week, with out being in classes. We got a new car, moved to Elgin, got a dog, found out I am pregnant, interviewed for a youth pastor position in South Dakota, lost my grandpa, and I'm still trying to figure out how to process all of it... the good and the hard.

The Car, the house and the dog are all good. we are excited about becoming new parents, and we are still trying to discern if moving to South Dakota is what God has in store for us. So if you have a second, pray for the Craig family as we do our best to listen and trust God in this process.