presently...

You couldn't really tell I was pregnant before last week. 

Now I have a little star-bellied sneech tum. And I love it so much. 

I've had a few people tell me it looks like I'm carrying pretty low and how that usually means there's a little boy inside. 

Our appointment is next week and hopefully we'll find out if that's true!

I recently started doing prenatal yoga. I never ever, ever exercise so I'm hoping this will be good for both the health of me and little crying's and the delivery. 

Chas and I are still praying every night that doors will be made open for us to be able to pay for little cryings on our own, without insurance. 

We still feel confident that everything will work out somehow. 

I've also been praying and trying to actively look for ways to serve others. 

I really want to be able to step outside myself and my little life of comfort and make connections and help others. But sometimes I don't know where to start, especially when everyone else around me seems fine and dandy as well. 

I'm still on the look out. 

I had a really great, long convo with one of my sisters recently. 

In a lot of ways, it felt like an answer to prayer. 

We talked about lots of different things, but all of them were valuable, important topics.

I came away from that conversation grateful for a chance to really connect with my sister. 

I had an increased resolve to set aside past hurts and exercise real forgiveness, compassion, and empathy for others. 

And we talked about how it's so easy to get caught up in yourself: how you look, what you're doing with your life, what you love, how others might perceive you. And how when you're so focused on yourself, you simply don't have the time and energy to look outward and extend yourself towards others.

I want to be able to slowly free myself from all the "me, me, me" so I can stretch out a hand, offer a genuine smile, and give real love to the people around me.