Feeling Blessed: A Baby Shower

Okay, you ready for a raw and vulnerable post?    

So a few weeks ago, a few girls threw me a baby shower. I initially didn't even want a baby shower - probably due to some underlying insecurities that hadn't really shown themselves yet. And I don't really like being the center of attention in a group of people.  For some reason, singing on a stage doesn't bother me in the least, but being the center of attention in a smaller group of people in a room is unnerving to me (social anxiety much?). But after some nudging by my mother, and when my friend Kristen suggested it, I slowly warmed up to the idea. 

I'm not going to lie - I actually was a little nervous about it...for several reasons. I've moved around quite a bit, so my friends are all scattered across the world (literally). And since we moved back to Springfield, I haven't really been "plugged in" anywhere - between taking a break from corporate church, working from home, and being consumed with figuring out so many changing aspects of our life... So the day before the shower, my insecurities got the best of me. I worried that no one would show up, and that would be a reflection on who I was as a person. 

Then the day of the shower came, and my friend Brenna came over in the morning with tons and tons of beautifully handmade decorations and wildflowers that she picked from her yard that morning (in the rain, I might add). She and her mom Mary immediately started putting up decorations, making the place look beautiful. She put so much thought into everything, picking my nursery colors for all her handmade decorations (and said I could keep whichever decorations I wanted to decorate the nursery). I felt very loved. 

My mom and grandma made several of my grandma's delicious pies (she's a bit famous for them). Chocolate Creme, Walnut Chocolate, Apple, Coconut Creme, Chocolate Layer, Pecan, Cherry, and my favorite, Pecan Chocolate. Yum! My mom also made some hot coffee and iced tea, a perfect accompaniment to the delicious pies. 

Then that afternoon, even though I hadn't lived here in a few years, more people than I ever expected poured through the doors. I was blown away, and felt so incredibly blessed that there was still a caring community ready to come together and support this next phase in our lives.

My sister Anna couldn't be there (she lives in Canada), but she and her husband Matt bought me a gift anyway. I love this basket! Handmade in Ghana, Africa.

My friend Brenna (the amazing creator of all of the beautiful shower decorations) and me

Little Ember is already a very loved little girl! We received so many amazing gifts, definitely helping us feel more prepared for her arrival. 

And I want to give a special shout out to Vicki at Big Fish Screenprinting who had these amazing onesies made for us with a picture of Harvey (an ACTUAL picture of Harvey) on the front of it! How awesome is that?!

Ember is a nomadic Powers and she doesn't even know it yet!

Bottom line, we feel so blessed to have so many people around us supporting us and helping us prepare for this next phase in our life. We're getting a little more excited every day!