Summer in Iowa aka: Memory Maker!

Hey Friends,
Yes we are still here and I'll be honest this one has been a story for the books. We were totally ready for  our departure to England and have been living with my parents since July 1st.
So, we have had a lot of Quality Time with family and friends and done lots of fun stuff in the mean time. Particularly so I don't go out of my mind. Truly this has been a summer to treasure with family and friends and here are the pictures to prove it.

1. Henry and Sydney have gotten over their FEAR of dogs because they were forced to live with my parents dog Lucky. Who has been a pain in my you know what! While we have lived here he has managed to eat a bag of marshmallows and a whole stick of butter and regularly drives me crazy..... But, we love him! Sydney says good morning to PUPPY everyday in the cutest little voice you could ever hear.

2. Speaking of Sydney she has reached and conquered many milestones this summer. She is done NURSING, we were still nursing 4 times a day until 14 months and then we quit all in one day and she did Marvelous! I had to give myself and my boobs :) a break before this next little Sister comes out!  Sydney is  MOBILE as in she is now walking and getting better everyday. Sydney is also only taking one nap in the afternoon, she could still probably take a morning one but we are having fun leaving the house in the morning so NO looking back! She is also quite the little chatter box. She can say lots of words and just like her brother she has a quite little sweet voice! Her favorite words are PUPPY, SHOES, SISSY.  She and Henry are starting to play together more and also starting to fight. But truly there are not enough words for me to describe how PRECIOUS it is to see them love each other. It really warms my heart!

3.  We have been able to spend about every family birthday with our families this summer. That has been super fun. We have gone out for dinner for most of these birthdays. Speaking of out to eat... we have concluded that eating out with small kids is quite the TASK!!!. I just need to remember that one day they will sit well and eat all by themselves and that day will come quickly. This still has not stopped us, and i do love not doing those dishes afterwards. :)

4. Henry is getting so big and i am seeing this little boy of mine slowly slipping out my hands into the Big Man he is going to become. (INSERT TEARS HERE). He is growing and growing and talking and talking and asking question after question. And while some days it does indeed press all of my patience buttons, most days it is quite sublime and lovely to watch him figure out the world around him.
He is a sweet, sensitive little man. He is loving life and loving LEGOS, ANIMALS, and lots of IMAGINATION games.
Here is a little funny Henry Summer Story:
 We all went to Adventureland this summer and for the first 1hour in a half we looked at all the rides, because Henry was a little tentative (to say the least). Then finally he started riding the rides and loved it. Except for he HATED the Frog Ride which is the equivalent of the Adult ride that shoots you up in the air. Anyway, he screamed the whole time. And to be honest, Andy and I just let him stay on. I mean it only lasted like 1 minute, so really it was no big deal. But, i will be honest, i was dying laughing, and Andy was standing right next to him...... yes, you may judge me as a bad mom. But, i don't know, it was so funny at the moment. Anyway, he was fine and kept telling us how brave he was and that he really did not like the FROG ride. I just always want to remember it.

I also got to take a fun little"Thank God I am not Nursing Trip" or get away with my mom, sister and brother. Just the 4 of us to Kansas City and spent the night with our cousins and then went outlet shopping and back home the next day. It was a quick trip, but so much fun, and really only possible because my husband is awesome and offered to give me a break for the day. What can I say, I married the most awesome man in the history of men! :) We of course took no pictures on this trip, which is a bummer! But, lets say we just did a lot of laughing!

 A couple of other noteworthy fun events:

1. I had a father/daughter date with my dad and we went to the Iowa State Fair to see Larry the Cable Guy. For whatever reason, i deleted the photos but have them on a different part of my computer. I just can't figure out how to load them here. Anyway, we had so much fun and it really was a highlight i think of my life. How many times do you go on dates just for fun with one of your parents now as an adult? It was really fun! And i will treasure it.

2. Andy, Henry, Sydney and I visited the Science Center and we also made it on the news. First off the kids loved the science center and all the activities, i will be honest, it sort of grosses me out to think of how they probably are the 1000000 kid to touch this toy/activity, and the germs on it. But, it was a fun morning and we got to see them tape the weather part of the news. My brother DVR'D it and we watch it a lot!

3. Baby #3 is getting big and moving lots and lots. I am getting bigger too ;) I have really been digging Peanut Butter and french toast. No wonder I am getting bigger!  I am not to worried. I will get back to normal eventually! I am 6 months prego and feel good. I like this stage because people look at you and know for sure you are pregnant and usually give you a smile or a nod that states "Go Momma, you Rock!" But, this time, it seems when I am with my other 2 kids people give me this look like "YOU ARE CRAZY" they see I have 2 kids and another one coming soon. It makes me wonder if they know something I don't! I have decided they don't.  :) That is unless they have the secret to SLEEPING and not worrying about random things like are the sheets on Henry or did he kick them off again. Maybe I need to go check at 1:30 AM, while I am up peeing anyway. I think that is a Mom thing and I can't shut that off or they would not have a Mom would they.

Well that's all for now chickies!

Dreams

Let me tell you about this lady who works with my mom. Her name is Lynn and she had this dream about me that I was pregnant and it was with a little girl. Well the funny thing is I do not see Lynn very often (like maybe once a year) and she had this dream that I was pregnant, it was right around the time I became pregnant with Reed Baby #3. The even crazier thing about her dream was that she was correct on the SEX.

We found out last week that Reed Baby #3 is indeed going to be another little GIRL!!!!!

Truly this little girl was planned by an amazing God to be gifted to us. I have no doubt!

So, i have been happy and very thankful because I always wanted Sydney to have a sister.
In a short 20 weeks give or take a few, we will meet baby #3. We have no names yet and seem to really struggle with girl names.
I am feeling good, just tired.
Getting very happy to think about the relationships that they will all have with each other.
I also am hugging on my Henry a little more just because we are pretty positive we are done after this third bambino. So, Henry will be my only little boy! How blessed I am.

Missions Update: We are STILL waiting on our visas. It has been since April 23rd when we sent it in and still we are waiting.
But we have been doing well and staying positive that it is all for a reason.
So, when I know more I shall tell.

Chelsea

Man it's Hot!

It has been so hot this summer. So in an effort to cool everyone down we have been using my parents Slip & Slide. IT is a good thing we are living here because they actually have a really good hill in their backyard.

Both Henry and Sydney love it.

Henry got little welts near his ribs because he just kept running and sliding down. And yes, he was only wearing his underwear. :)

We have also been swimming a lot at my grandma's pool in Altoona. It is free and has been the perfect place for my kids to actually swim! Henry  loves to swim in the pool or as he calls it the "cool".

 This hot summer has really brought Sydney's cute curls out. I just had to post a picture of her little ringlets!

Sydney also has received her first bee sting. It was at the pool and a wasp stung her right between the thumb and the first finger. In true Sydney fashion she cried hard core for 2 minutes and then just ate some teddy grams. Truly they fix all problems.  That was enough to tucker this girlfriend out!

And for a quick missions update: NOTHING. We are convinced that our visas are refusing to be processed due to the Olympics. So we are just chillin. We will let you know when things change.

Chao for now!

Hi, I am Baby # 3

Andy and I went to get our first ultrasound yesterday and we saw our first glimpse of Baby #3!
If you would like to get Surreal feeling, just go get an ultrasound.
I really just think there is nothing quite like seeing a little Human growing inside of you. IT really makes me think how amazing God is and what a Miracle LIFE is!  You just instantly fall in love.
We went early thinking that we would be packing and leaving for England in the next few days after this ultrasound. SO, we wanted to know the sex and what to pack.
Well, of course we did not run this plan by Baby 3, because Baby 3 did not cooperate.
But, i am going to tell you that my gut says GIRL.
Just look at that profile! How cute. I promise the babe does have legs, it looks sort of like a mermaid now.
Everything else with the babe is going good. I am not feeling that sick anymore.
Just feeling quite chunky, and I must say that being prego at 4 months is sort of the time when at least for me i feel as though I look just fat. But, with all that being said, i truly feel blessed.:)
Due date is still December 27th, 2012. Our little Christmas blessing.

Quick Missions Update: Our visas are still being processed so we are still in limbo land, but we are happily sitting in limbo land at my parents.
Hopefully we will hear more soon.
God's timing is perfect and we are fine with that.
Chelsea

Flexibility

Hey Readers, Well we have moved in with my parents and out of our house in Ankeny. 

Truly the plans are in motion to move to England.

This was a hard move, just moving in general i would rate to be hard. Maybe grading system i would give a C. Because you can just throw all your stuff in boxes and then unpack at the next location.

MOVING INTERNATIONALLY on the other hand is Moving on Drugs! 

Nothing about it is easy! Every little thing you own needs a decision made on whether you want/need this and can it fit or be shipped without costing an arm or a leg.

I have indeed done this before, but not with 2 & 1/2 kids. So, maybe i was just a lot more wimpy this time around. But, boy am I glad these last few days are done!

My kids have shown that they are able to roll with the punches and be flexible.

That in itself is an answer to prayer, because truly it has been harder on me then it has been on them!

Well, i will update you soon.

Chelsea

Reed Update

Hi, we are moving to across the pond very soon.
I have been quite overwhelmed with packing our life in a 7 ft long and 4 ft high box!
And we have sold our big car, so know we are in the little one.
I am truly coming to terms with the bible verse on being content in all situations! Philippians 4:12
We could all learn a lot when we get rid of lots of the junk in our house.
And truly, there are things that I am sentimental attached to,  but really we just had a lot of stuff/junk/toys.........
Here are the Moving Stats:
Chelsea: 14 weeks prego and doing good. Feeling good about the move and overwhelmed with the moving. Good thing i have great friends and family. Happy about the next adventure that God is taking us on.
Andy: SUPER DAD, he is an awesome Mover and has been taking this so well. He is my calm cool and collected man. I could not do this without him.
Henry: He is my little 3 year old stud, he is active and on the go. He likes to play and swim. He has been our little fish this year. He is excited to move to Bristol, England. And then go to the Bristol Zoo.
Sydney:  She is doing good, i think she might have a little british accent when she comes back to the USA. She is growing lots lately. My little 1 year old. She is my sweet little girl. I am starting to get that girls are sort of emotional......... That is an understatement. She goes from 0 to 10 in like half a second. And this a little new to me.
And Baby Number 3: Well we get to find out the sex in 2 weeks, just so we know what to pack.
My guess is BOY. I will have another foreign born babe.

Well, that is all for now..

What Angelina Jolie and I have in common

Well friends it has been quite a crazy Month of birthdays here at the Reed household.
We celebrated Henry's 3rd birthday. And Miss Sydney's 1st birthday together.
This is a couple of the pictures from that day.
We celebrated with family and lots of yummy food and really an answer to prayer. I am so happy that we were able to celebrate in the USA with their family. I thank God for his hand and plan for our lives.
Henry had a blast with all his cousins and the presents. :)
It is so cool to see my little man growing and turning 3 years old. He is quite the sweetie. And i am taking all the hand holding that i can! I know it is going to go fast.
His birthday is June 6th and we are going to go to Henry's favorite place the zoo.
Hence the zoo cake, made by his Aunt Mish.
As for Sydney. She was a birthday pro. She loved on her family and loved the opening of presents.
She is our little sweet pea and even now I am sad that she is growing so fast and gaining such independence.

Although I must say I am not to sad, because YES indeed I am PREGNANT again and by God's grace will be doing the 1st birthday thing another time!!!!
So, what do Angelina Jolie and I have in common, well, all of our kids were born in different countries.
Henry born in Mexico, Sydney the USA, and the third little one will be in the UK.
The due date is December 26th. So, i am like 10 weeks now.
So, that is the crazy news of the Reed clan!

Happy Birthday Sydney

Today is my baby girl's 1st Birthday. Now, she is officially a toddler.
How time flies when you are have such a perfectly cute baby girl.
Sydney came to us at just the perfect time. I honestly was so excited to have a little girl baby.
I was excited to see the differences between her and Henry.
I was excited to do her hair and paint her toe nails.
And she has only gone above and beyond what I would hope for in a little girl.
Sydney is a good combination of sweet and sassy. The sassy is just now starting to show it's fun little side. ;)
What else can I say but I am so thankful to be her Momma!
Now enjoy 12 months of Sydney!

Love, Mom & Dad & Henry

And then He kissed me.

Happy 7th Anniversary to me and my sweet Andy.

This post is a little late because our anniversary was actually on May14th.
On our actual anniversary we played 9 rounds of golf. Something we have never done and we had so much fun. It was so fun to be kid free. Fact of the day: I am the better golfer, but probably not after 18 rounds, i would be to bored. 9 holes was quite a lot. :)

Let me tell you the 7 things that I have learned since being married to Andy Roo.


1. Andy wrote me love notes everyday on our honeymoon and he wrote me poems while dating. I have one framed in our bedroom. And to this day he still writes me letters. :)

2. The list of nicknames has grown through the years, here are a few for you to laugh at: Andy Roo, Cheecher, Cheech, Alfie, Babe, Antoine.

3. Andy's my protector and best friend. We have never gone to bed mad at one another.

4. Andy's hands always feel like sand paper, but i still hold them.

5. Andy is still a germ-a-phob. He won't wear breathe right strips because he thinks more bacteria or dust in the air gets into his nostrils, when he wears them.

6. Andy is hardly ever mean, we all know that i am the moody/ mean one in our family. And he is continually nice to me. Even when I don't deserve it. He is the true definition of LOVE.

7. My heart has grown 700 times more than i did on the day we married. Words barely describe my love and how it grows. Andy is the best dad and husband for our family. God really knew what I needed and I am ever so thankful to him. My life is so full with Andy.

Crazy Train

These are my new favorite pictures of my kids. I will interpret them for you.

1. I love my brother and I want to give him a kiss.

2. I love my sister, she is my best friend.

And this is our crazy mom,  isn't she glorious in her pajama's and lovely glasses!

Missions Monday on Wednesday

Well, today is one of those days where my mind is constantly on the move. Thinking of any and all the worries/fears/joys that are to come in the next couple of months. So, i want to be honest about them and share the things that have been keeping me up at night lately.

As, you may or may not know, we are planning a great big MOVE to the U.K. this July/August.
Andy and I have felt this "Call" on our lives for awhile and we really believe that God has lead us to this point for this time. We feel called to be missionaries right now in this time in our lives. So, I want to move and do the job that God has for Andy and I in England. Yet, a part of my heart is constantly in battle with God's direction on my life.

I struggle with fears of something happening to my family both good and bad, and i have no way of being apart of it.
I struggle with knowing parts of my life are going to be more lonely, just due to the fact of not knowing anyone and having to make friendships.
But more than anything I struggle with my kids future, as a Mom, I want the best for them. I want the best schools, the best friends, i want them to always be able to get the best things. And I know that life is not meant to be that way. It is just hard, to know that things that make your child so happy, like their family, are going to be taken away. Even if its only for awhile.
I struggle with uprooting my children's lives and starting them over in a different country.
I struggle with the adjustments my kids will have to make, (really it is just Henry, Sydney is still so young).
I struggle with struggling, because I don't want to be that way. Many people are a lot worse off, and truly I am blessed.

Anyway, I found this blog, that spoke on "Missionary Kids" or MK's. And the life that they have. It was one mom talking about how her kids struggled with the move they made and what they realized and tried to help their kids understand.  It truly was a great read for me on this day. God spoke right to my heart, helping to calm me down and remember that his ways are higher than my silly ways!
Henry is still quite small, but I do think this blog helped me to feel better about all the changes that are going to take place in his life.

Here is the section that was so helpful for me:

After a few tearful conversations and heartfelt prayers, my husband experienced an aha! moment while reading the Gospel of Luke. After the Passover Festivities, 12-year-old Jesus decides to stay behind in Jerusalem without his parents’ knowledge or permission. Three days later, Mary and Joseph finally discover their son in the temple and promptly take him home. Have you ever wondered why Jesus accompanied them to Nazareth? Simple, because they were his parents and he belonged with his family.

Encouraged by our new-found insight we humbly approached our children. “We want you to know that we love you very much and we know its been tough year. A long time ago, God called mommy and daddy to be missionaries. We are thankful for his calling. But the missionary calling is our calling. Not yours. You have a different calling. God called you to be our children. And since he called you to be our children, wherever we are in this world, that is where you belong. Because God called you to be a part of our family.”

Whew.

I appreciate that our fellowship wants to affirm and support our children. Being an MK (a child of a missionary) has unique challenges. But we don’t affirm pastor’s kids by calling them pastors. And for a very good reason. Because they’re not. Such a calling would not be an affirmation but a burden. The mantle of missionary (with all its responsibilities) belongs to those called by God.

Yes, my children have a call from God. But it’s the same calling your kids have: to be a part of a loving and nurturing family. Families, not titles give our kids a sense of belonging. If and when our children feel called by God to be missionaries, then we will affirm their calling. But until that time, we will just let our kids be kids. 

Adventureland aka: My life

Life has been crazy around her the past few weeks. Really an emotional roller coaster.
We had District Council last week and pretty much got the remaining funds needed for England. So it looks like we are for sure going to be going to Jolly England coming this July/August.  It will be right when the Olympics are going to be going on.

We stepped out in faith for this journey and God has truly provided for us every step of the way.
I like saying that we have trusted God with this completely and that on our own we would not have made it. It is so true.

So, now we start planning our MOVE to across the Pond with the kids.
But in other news, we have been planning a little girls First Birthday. A big brothers 3rd birthday.
Celebrating Melissa's birthday. The month of May is chocked full of birthdays/ anniversary. What a fun month.

Here are a few pictures that i love that we took for Sydney and Henry's birthday. And i love them.
Henry looks so big to me, and Sydney just looks so sweet. I am blessed for sure.

Anyway, that is just an update.
Chao for now.

Missions Monday

Well its Missions Monday and I have a perfect story to share.

It is sort of an explanation of why we do missions. Its so people can experience Jesus! Our Father, our Healer, our Savior.

We got this letter in the mail from the Executive Director of Assemblies of God Missions, Greg Mundis. He is a great guy and this is a great story. I am writing it for you to read.

Dear Friend of Missions,

Thank you for helping us share the hope of the gospel throughout the world by your faithful support of missionaries and ministries.

I want to share with you and amazing testimony from a missionary working in a highly sensitive country.

A local woman was hospitalized and lay in a coma at or near death. Her husband went to begin funeral arrangements. When he returned to the hospital, his wife was up, dressed and packing to go home.

The husband and physicians were dumbfounded and asked her what happened. She asked them, "Where is the doctor with the long hair and white robe?" No doctor in the hospital fit that description.

The woman didn't know anything about Jesus, but she saw a painting of Him hanging on the hospital wall. "That is the doctor who came to me," she told them. Jesus had graciously appeared to her, looking like the painting so she would be able to identify the Man who visited her.

The woman removed her own tracheal tube, feeding tube and arm injection tubes after Jesus came to her. The missionary shared that the woman still had a drain tube in her abdomen, but she pulled that out when she got home and had a neighbor sew up the wound.

As amazing as this story is, it gets even better. The woman talked to Jesus after He healed her and said, "You healed me. Will You heal my paralyzed boy too?" That night, the woman's husband heard someone walking in the house. He got up, and there was their 5-year-old son- who had never walked previously- up and walking around the house!

The story doesn't even end there. As a result of these miracles, there are now six new churches being built.

Testimonies abound as God is making himself known throughout the world. I believe He is preparing the Church for miracles beyond our greatest imaginings!

So All Can Hear, Greg Mundis

~Isn't that the coolest story. It really inspires me this Holy Week to think about our All Powerful, and All Loving God.

Thats all for now, Chelsea

We love the Zoo!

Hi we are the Reed's and we LOVE the Zoo! We got our money's worth out of that Zoo pass.

If you ask Henry what his favorite song is and he would sing: We are going to the Zoo song.

Henry knows what everyone in the families favorite animal is.

For example: Mine is the Giraffe. Andy's is the Tiger, Sydney's is the Ladybug and Henry's is the Lion.

Don't you love the pictures. One of my faves is Sydney's new teeth, she has a huge space in between and this Momma is lovin the space. It gives her this unique sssss noise.:)

Interview with my sweet hubby

We are watching some TV, and I decided to interview my hubby and write it down for you.

Here you go:

Did you like dinner tonight?

Yes, i thought it was yummy.

On a scale of one to ten, how was dinner?

Ummm,, maybe a 7.7. (this is a lie, because we just ate enchiladas and they were only okay)

What was the best part of your day?

Doing the puzzle with Henry and eating an apple together.

What did you want to be as a little boy?

I don't know, i think i wanted to be a writer.

Do you think Anderson Cooper is cute?

Cute,, i don't think any guys are cute!

What show would you rather be watching?

Only in America by larry the Cable Guy. (our new fav. show)

Did you like your haircut experience today? (He got his hair cut today:))

Yea, i saw our neighbors, you know the ones to down with the hot tub.

Um, no, i don't know them.

Yea, there names are ............. and ..............

No, I still don't remember them.

Well, they were at the block party.

Ohh, well i still am drawing a blank.

Thats okay they are nice.

If you could eat anything right now, what would you eat.

I could go for some Thai food right now.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

Siberia

Really, where would you go?

Hmmm, I don't know. Where would you go?

Hawaii

Hawaii, yes, i would go there with you. Love you Cheech!

Love you too.

Well that concludes our convo on tonight March 20, 2012.

Just want to do a shout out to my sis and brother in law: Paul and Becky.. Happy 13 years of Marriage we Heart you!

Post about Chelly

Hey friends,

I thought I would post on me tonight. This hardly ever happens, so pay attention. :)

Weird things about me now, my Left eye is weird and red pretty much all the time. The doctor says it is due to wind and dryness. I am not a fan, but I am thankful I have two eyes that can see.

And now onto some random facts about me:

1. I am a spoiler, i look up the end to every Bachelor at the begining of the season. Yes, i do watch that retarded show~ I also looked up the ending to the second Hunger Games book. I read the first and loved it and couldn't wait for the ending to the second.

2. Also I am in the process of reading this book: All I need is Jesus and a good pair of Jeans.

It is a good read, and I would recommend it to all the Momma's and Women out there.

3. I have been thankful for God's grace lately, i really have been feeling undeserving of it.

4. One tv show that I catch myself watching lately is: Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy. Yes, call me a loser but he is funny... :)

5. I went to a bible study with some of my girl pals on friday, and I had to say some things I think I am good at. I want to say them on here so that I remember saying them: I am a Good Mom. It is a hard role, but I love it. I am a good encourager. I am honest. I am Strong. I am a good Nurse. Those are the things I listed.

Talk to you later pallies.:)

Missions Monday

Well, today I am posting on some of our good friends who are Missionaries. Today is a perfect day for them to represent Missions Monday because they are leaving TODAY for a 36 hour trip to Indonesia. Yes, you read correctly 36 hours in the plane with 3 kids. I can't even imagine. So, say a prayer for them.

This is Tim and Doris Eckert. Their kids are T.J., Ariyanna, and Gracie. They have been good friends of ours for the last 6 years. They are missionaries from Iowa like us, and this is their second time going to Indonesia.

Let me tell you a little about their family: They totally want to follow God's call on their lives. It is no piece of pie to live in Indonesia. They go without many of the luxuries of life that many of us take for granted. Doris truly makes me want to be a better Momma, and better woman of God. I admire her a lot, she has been such an encourager in my life.

They are moving to a remote part of Indonesia, pretty much away from the civilized parts to an area where the Boogie people or tribes are. IT is where we get the saying of the Boogie Man. They are ministering to these people by teaching and pastoring at a school and churches. They will be planting churches in this area.

Doris told me that she doesn't even know if they will have an oven because it is so hard to get it there.... I mean i had no comment when she told me that, i think i said you are SUper woman, and that I already told God I would definitely be needing an oven no matter where I am. ;)

Here is one last fact about Doris. This is what she wrote about herself on facebook: I have dedicated my whole life to serving the God I love and the people He loves. Tim and I are currently serving the people of Indonesia and praying that those whose lives we touch will know the love of their creator in a new and amazing way! I am daily overwhelmed by God's goodness, His grace, and just by who He is.

Please pray for the Eckerts. Pray for God's safety on their lives, and that their kids would adjust well to life in remote Indonesia. Pray that God would open up the hearts of the people in Indonesia and they would see lives changed.

That is all for this monday of Missions Monday.