today

Today there's things I miss:
- quite times in Togo. The reading, self-reflection, and prayer time that came so easily while being in that cute house on a rainy afternoon.  The time to listen to the local sales-lady screaming about whatever she was selling and the kids laughing outside the gate. Take away the pure trash lying on the streets and the hot humidity - I miss the simplicity of it. I miss the opportunity to dive in to whatever God was trying to show me. 
- the ease of dating.  I have an amazing husband and marriage that I could never replace.  God has blessed us both beyond anything I've ever deserved, but today I find myself (while trying to clean out closets full of boxes) reminiscing about our dating life.  Kyle and I had so much fun in Ruston getting to know each other and "fall in love".  It's funny how at that point I thought I was falling so much in love with him but the longer I'm married, I realize truly what that means. We have faced some junk, that's for sure, and I'm grateful for it.  I'm grateful for the good and rough times that have shown me what marriage and love really are. But today, I miss the little things like the joy of just going to Sonic because one or both of us actually had the $10 that day to go get something that wasn't bought with our "Tech Express" card. 
- not being pregnant.  That's a rough thing to say, I know. But, hear me out. I love having a growing miracle inside of me and I'm SO ready to meet my lil' man. But, for goodness sake, all a girl wants to do is lay flat on her stomach! OR be able to lay on my stomach to get something from underneath the couch. So, I guess I don't miss not being pregnant. I miss not having a watermelon sticking off the front of me. 
- high school and college friendships. Hmmm... enough said. 


But, I can't just mope while trying to sort through the mess I've created by "cleaning out" things around the house. (see, the baby's room was pretty much storage when we moved in... there's boxes in there that haven't been touched since we moved in and now I'm finally trying to sort through it all) There are things that I'm grateful for and looking forward to. 


Today, I'm grateful for:
- my job and new life in Pineville. I never wanted to move here. (NEVER) but we did. It was a rough first year of adjusting for me. I didn't know anyone and I just wanted to find a niche. I'm grateful that I got the teaching position I did and have been able to make the friends I have. We also are loving our Life Group at church.  We're the youngest in the group but are loving the relationships we're making. 
- my dog. Yes, cheesy, but Mister is keeping me sane when I feel like junk. When pregnancy makes me want to be lazy, he doesn't try to coax me out of bed, he just snuggles right up and enjoys the nap, too. He's a bad dog and drives me nuts, but it's cool when dogs realize something's going on with your body. He's mine and Kyle's first thing we actually had "together" and he's pretty dern cool. 
- my house. It's cold, it's old, it creaks when you walk in certain spots. But, it's mine. The floors are (finally) getting insulated this week so maybe it'll warm up. I dig it. 
- the ability to think and do whatever I want in this "free" country. There's a video going around that I've got to post... stirs my thinking. What do I think about it all? Haven't decided... but if you're off today and want to stir your brain, here ya go.

BTW: it's getting real close to baby time. whew!

Blessed

It has been a blur the past few weeks (an understatement for what is in store, I'm sure).  Kyle and I have realized just how amazing of a life God has given us.  From our amazing friends to our ever-loyal families, we cannot ever express just how blessed we are.  

It's been a season of so many things for us.  Christmas came and went in such a fast time that we had to sit and reminisce about what we really did.  We enjoyed Christmas with my mom's side of the family the weekend before and loved getting to see all of that extended family. Christmas weekend we made our annual "Louisiana Triangle" as we call it. To some people, it's crazy to drive that much over three days, but to us... it is our norm.  We left on Friday afternoon at 2pm and headed to Stonewall for dinner and a movie with my parents, sisters, and brothers-in-law.  It's fun to just be "us" from time to time.  We stayed the night there and had our family Christmas on Saturday morning/lunch.  Watching Robin's kids, John Ryan and Nora, get to open and be so excited about their gifts is so much fun!  We ended up leaving Mom's around 2 to head to Kyle's parents to have Christmas with them and his brother.  Again, we love the time with our immediate families. Its a time to slow down and hang out by ourselves, which we don't get often.  Christmas Eve Kyle and I went home to open our "CE gifts" (aka: pajamas!) and headed to bed for a busy Christmas Day.  Christmas Day started bright and early (thanks, Kyle) and after having our last Christmas alone as a couple, we headed to his mom's side of the family for 10am Christmas!  This is such a fun tradition: everyone sits around and reads the story of Jesus' birth followed by singing, there's gag gifts remembering the year's events, and exchanging of gifts starting with the youngest in the group, followed by a fabulous lunch!  Sure enough, we weren't done yet... We left (again around 2pm) to head to Toledo Bend to see his dad's side of the family! Whew! We were there til Monday... yep, at 2! 

Our families are large and we were pooped by the end, but is it so bad to say you have "too much" family to go see? I think not. 

We were home for a couple of hours when two great friends came in to town.  Hunter and Angie and their little Arabella came to visit for a few days.  We spent some much needed time getting acquainted with their 9 week old baby girl and catching up.  Kyle got good practice with baby holding, a gassy belly, and some super sad faces from such a precious baby.  He laughed when she laughed and hated it when she had the hiccups. Yeah... he's getting ready. 

We've gotten to see our little man again and again and I fall more in love with him each time.  He's starting to look squishy in all the right places and I just can't wait to hold him! Some friends of ours, Tim and Wendi, had their little boy just last week and holding someone so small and perfect makes us each that much more impatient! Today, our check-up was great. We've got about 8 weeks left and he's already over 4 pounds! oh my! 

So.... between family and this growing miracle I've got... I'm not lucky. I'm blessed. God has given me  a life I never even realized I wanted. I've had nights laughing late into the night with friends I've only known for a short period of time, mornings where I've needed to sleep off the holiday travels, and afternoons where I've laughed with my husband about the smallest things. I've done nothing to deserve what He has given me and continues to provide me with, but I can say that I am truly grateful. 

an update... a month late

Does the last post really say the end of October?! That's sad. 

It's mid December now and there's been so much happening. I have to think back... 

Last weekend of October was LaTech's homecoming and it was fabulous. Kyle and I visited and caught up with so many friends we've missed. We spend the entire weekend hanging out with some of our best friends and laughed until our sides hurt. We missed our friends Hunter and Angie, but they were preoccupied welcoming their new baby girl, Arabella Jolie, to the world! We were so excited for them and can't wait to meet her! 

Thanksgiving came and went way too quickly! My sister, Randi, and I finished the baby's room and it is absolutely amazing. She is one talented gal and I'm lucky to have my own "personal interior designer"! (see the pictures below!!!) We spent a low-key Thanksgiving at home with my family and came back to Pineville to set up all the Christmas decorations.  

December has been absolutely crazy. We were getting ready for Kyle's brother's, Kody, and Jessica's wedding the first two weeks and it came and went beautifully this past weekend. (my latest "belly picture" below is from their wedding) Kyle and I enjoyed getting to be a part of it and are so happy for the couple. Between the wedding, finishing up a semester of online classes, and doing Christmas activities with my kiddos at school, the first 12 days of the month have flown by! 

I know many people want some baby updates, so here we go. Our baby boy is moving and grooving constantly inside this ever-growing belly of mine.  He's kicking my left rib constantly and getting into quite the routine of movement patterns.  Every night around 10:30 or 11 he puts on quite the show for me and Kyle.  Kyle can usually feel him and sometimes he even gets to see him move. We are loving this stage of the pregnancy!  I'm officially in the third trimester (28 weeks) and we are counting down to meeting our little man. Doctor's appointments have been going very smoothly - we've had all the glucose tests, etc, and everything is looking great!  Thankfully the indigestion has gone away and I still have a good bit of energy (even though I can tell that is starting to slack off).  We're looking forward to our last Christmas just the two of us. 

Here's to the next time  - Rachel 

super cute onesie from our friends Anna and Jeff

onesie from Anna and Jeff

the extra twin bed in the baby's room, with pillows made by me and my sister

baby bed! Randi did most of this work - well, all of it except the orange ties. 

another view of the bedding. I LOVE it!!! 

view from the bed. The green and yellow curtains were made by Randi and the brown panels we bought. 

cute changing table/dresser I bought in Canton over a year ago

another view of the room - I find myself just wandering in there often

28 weeks and a bridesmaid... big belly!!! 

I have a confession

I've been a terrible blogger. I don't even know where the time has gone or what I've really been doing. Apparently the "30 day challenge" beat me! So, here I am, more than a month later since my last post with no real excuse for not writing.... other than... working, doing grad school junk, fighting off colds, blah blah blah, the list could go on.

So, I'll give a little update and a commitment to do better with the previously mentioned "challenge".

Many people have asked for "belly pictures" and baby updates. So far, we're doing great. Over just the last couple of weeks or so this bump of mine has really decided to pop right out! It's an odd thing to experience but I'm enjoying it. I haven't had too many unwanted belly rubs or awkward questions and all the nausea is gone. I still can't eat much red meat (one night I completed an entire steak, but haven't been able to do it since!).  In more exciting news - I FINALLY felt it move! a week or so ago, I was coughing up a storm and he/she decided to roll right over in my belly. I tried and tried to make it do it again, and sure enough it did! It was an unmistakable roll - not a "flutter" like I've heard so much about.  I screamed for Kyle to come quick because I was so excited but when he got to the room and I told him, we both realized that with that excitement came somewhat of a let-down because he couldn't feel it yet!  Now we're waiting on that. There has started to be some consistent "flutters" but nothing big enough for him to feel. I've had my first experience with feet "puffiness" but was able to fix it real fast.

In Sasser news: Kyle and I are doing great. He's loving the idea of becoming a new daddy. He's on a "no-carb" diet and has amazingly lost 22lbs in four weeks! (The pictures below are before the diet began - wait until you see the "afters"!!! I'm so proud of him!) About the time he decided to diet, I decided it was time to start "grubbing down"! (But we won't tell what I'm gaining...) My dad is doing better (for those that don't know, he wrecked a fire truck and fractured a couple of vertebre). He's wearing his brace and being "good". Even better - he was re-elected to the Police Jury in DeSoto Parish!!! Whoo hoo! We're staying busy busy. We've been to a Saints game and an LSU game in the last month with a visit to the deer camp on Toledo Bend in between. This upcoming weekend we'll be heading to Ruston for Tech's Homecoming game and we are looking forward to a weekend full of great times with fabulous friends!

Tuesday is the big day!!! It's time to find out if Baby Sasser is a BOY or a GIRL!!!

here's the pics that people have requested:

15 weeks - September 11, 2011

16 weeks 1 day - September 19, 2011
My friend Melanie took this because "Oh my goodness, Rachel, you look so pregnant!"

17 weeks - with our friend Anna at the Saints vs Houston game
September 25, 2011

Me and my sisters at the "gala". (not a belly picture, but oh well)
October 1, 2011

Kyle and I at the gala - 17 weeks 6 days
October 1, 2011

18 weeks 2 days - October 4, 2011

Kyle and I at Toledo Bend. 18 weeks 6 days
October 8, 2011

And today! We're past the halfway point!!!
21 weeks - October 23, 2011

Day 8: Short term goals for this month

1.  Get started on the t-shirt quilt.
2.  Start interviewing pediatricians. (at least make a list)
3.  Fill out day care paperwork.
4.  Get a massage.

Day 7: A picture of someone that has had the biggest impact on you

       There are two couples that have had quite an impact on me. Living alongside of Murphy & Christine Crowson and Marty & Louise Koonce was one of the biggest blessings that God has given me. It was just 10 short months, but in those months I learned more about faith, family, and love than I have in my entire life. They showed me what faithful prayer is all about, always giving everything over to God and giving up all control to Him. I had never known how intimate and powerful prayer could be until hearing their prayers and seeing the power that they held. They also showed me how a family can be fully dependent on each other and exist to only make each other better. I was raised in an amazing family who loved each other fully, but I hadn't had an opportunity as an adult to see parenting like I did in these couples. They raise their boys to live fully for God and no one else. They love them unconditionally and teach them to be strong men of faith. Lastly, I learned from these two couples what true, Godly marriages look like. Being away from family, they have each other to lean on and their marriages are amazing for that. In the States, we have so much to depend on that often we don't realize how valuable our spouses truly are. We lose sight of the bond that God created marriage to be. Spending the time with them that I did before getting married has truly been a blessing to mine and Kyle's marriage. I saw how couples can pray, sing, and praise together in everything they do.

Thank you for taking a chance on me and teaching me more than you'll ever realize - love you all.

Murphy & Christine - they are such a sweet spirited couple. This week people around the world are rejoicing with them as they go to pick up their baby girl from China after years of prayer for their "Precious"! They'll go from a family of four with two boys to a family of five. I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing them this December! 

Marty & Louise - this is my favorite picture of them! Marty's always thinking of something witty to say while someone else is talking and Louise always has her camera ready to take the next shot. They're parents of four, but act like to teenagers still oogely in love. 

       Next, I must tell you about my parents. The two couples listed above are amazing, but you can never beat a girl's parents.  My parents are great for a million reasons and I could go on and on about them. But I'll just give you the top five reasons why they've had the biggest impact on me.
1. They encouraged me to be me.  They always told me to stand up for who I was and encouraged me to always be true to who I am. They never held me back and always pushed me forward.
2.  My parents trusted me. Now, they may have questioned my whereabouts from time to time (which was warranted) but they always treated me like I could make my decisions. Whether it be wanting to leave the country (twice), friends I chose, or meeting my future hubby, they backed me. They took me at my word and were there to hear my side of the story.
3.  Mom - she's always wanted best for me.  She gets feisty on my behalf but never lets me throw myself a pity party. When I was upset with someone or got in a silly dramatic girl fight her first response was always, "Well, what could you have done different?" or "What did you do to them?" She never allowed me to take the stance of "they hurt me" but instead always wanted me to see how my actions could always change the outcome of a situation. She taught me to be respectful and as much of a lady as possible. In Terrie B's house there are no S words.
4. Dad - well, you can see a lot about him here, but here's the basics: he taught me what hard work is. He raised three girls (with mom's help of course) to be strong women. He took my side everytime I needed it most, whether it be a run-in with an adult or crappy boyfriend, he stood by me without getting too involved.
5. They together, have stuck it out. My parents have been married for over 30 years and for them that's just how it is. Along with every other couple in America - they could've ran at any point, but they didn't. To me, that's the best thing parents can give their children. To this day, I'm grateful they never gave up.

Dad in Mom in a village in Togo. To this day - still probably my favorite picture of them. 

Looking for a picture of the three of us was pretty hard! Apparently, I need to take one soon. :)  xoxo

Day 6: Favorite Superhero and why

When thinking about this, I realized how much I hate all the new comic book movies and the overabundance of remakes lately. Honestly, I don't have a favorite superhero - but I think Underdog is cute.