We finally got to see Lil' JZ for the first time this week! We were amazed and humbled to see our baby for the first time. It was an incredible experience! The ultrasound tech is 70% sure that the baby is a girl (Jeremy is still holding out hope on that 30% chance...), so we are going back March 14 to get another look. We do know, however, that our baby is healthy and active, and that is all that matters! Good luck interpreting the blobs....

PICTURE #1
This is a nice shot of our praying baby (kneeling with the head to the right and the feet on the left).




PICTURE #2
And this is...well, I can see the head on the right, and after that, you're on your own!

After much thought and discussion, Jeremy and I decided to stay in FL and spend our first Christmas together in our own home. We missed being with our families for Christmas, but we were blessed to be able to spend time relaxing together! On Christmas Eve, we decided it was time for a little cold weather! We headed to Orlando to see the ICE! exhibit (kept at 9 degrees). The sculptures were amazing, and it was fun to go from a winter wonderland back to the warm FL sunshine!



My mom and stepfather decided to drive down to see us New Year's weekend. We enjoyed spending time with them and taking them to the beach! They took this picture for us. I know it looks like we are dressed for Easter, but it really was New Years! (Gotta love that FL weather!)

My how life can change in a year! Last year at this time I was up early every morning to scrape ice off my car and bundle up in my heaviest coat before going out in the below-zero temps. Now, I'm lucky if I get to wear long sleeves, much less a jacket! Although it is taking a little bit of adjusting, I must admit it's been nice to be able to hang out at the beach in November and December!!!
Jeremy and I were blessed to have the Woodard clan come to visit us for Thanksgiving. We had fun playing with the kids, staying up late cheating at....I mean playing board games, and eating lots of food!









At the beginning of December, Jeremy and I went to visit my dad's apartment (we did see Dad for a day), and played on the beach at Fort Lauderdale. The sunset was amazing!!

If you know me very well, you know that I absolutely LOVE Alaska. I didn't always enjoy scraping mounds of snow and ice off my windshield at 6 a.m. in below-zero weather, but looking up at the mountains almost always made up for it. When Jeremy and I decided to move to FL, I was excited because I know this is where God wants us to be. Even so, I was a little hesitant about leaving the mountains. After all, other than the beach (which is AMAZING), what is there to see in FL? We have been in FL for about a month now, and I have learned that God's creation is beautiful - mountains or not. And so, I've decided to take stock and share just a few of the reasons I love the Sunshine State...

If you had asked me four months ago, I would have told you that this September would be filled with grading papers, writing lesson plans, and preparing for another cold winter in Palmer, AK. Little did I know that God had other plans! I am now living in the Sunshine State (where winter is a foreign word) with my new husband, and I couldn't be happier. God's ways are not our ways, but they are certainly MUCH better! Patience is never easy, but when we wait for His timing, it's always worth the wait. Please pray for us and our new life in FL, as well as for our church (Cedars of Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church) and our pastor and his family. Stay tuned for more exciting details :-)

-Andrea