A little update
Well, we have now been in the states for 3 weeks and we’re starting to feel pretty settled here. We haven’t been doing much besides just getting ready for the baby and hanging out with family.
I’m now 36 weeks pregnant and we are starting to get very excited for this little guy to come. We have a little nursery set up at the apartment where we are staying and all of his little cloths are washed and ready for him. Most everything is ready for the birth now, and we are just waiting. Technically, we could still have 4 more weeks to wait, but my midwife thinks I might go a bit early, so we’re trying to be prepared.
I don’t have much else to say right now, but here are the most recent pictures of my belly. Enjoy! 
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany
Goodbye Prague, Hello America
Well, tomorrow we leave for 5 months in the states. Even though it feels really strange to think of being gone from Prague for 5 months and I know that we will really miss people here, I am really excited to head back to the states. Going back brings us one step closer to the baby and it means I can stop worrying about going into labor too early here in Prague – which will be a relief. But, it also means getting to see family and old friends, the conveniences of life in the states, everyone speaking English, our favorite restaurants and foods, and all the other little luxuries that come with being in the states. The culture shock in the Czech Republic isn’t extreme – it’s very subtle – it took Bryan and I almost two years to notice. It’s not obvious, but it is just under the surface threatening to pop up at odd moments when you least expect it. Honestly, I’m looking forward to not feeling that stress and to having a bit of an easier life for a few months. It’s not what I want all the time or for my life overall, but it will be nice to have a little break. In many ways our five months in the states is feeling like a little mini-sabbatical – a Sabbath rest from the pressures and complications of life abroad. And I’m looking forward to that. Although, I’m sure that it won’t be much of a restful season with a new baby - our five months in the states will have their own challenges and stresses as we adjust to parenthood, but it will still be a good break from our current challenges.
With that said there are a lot of things I’m going to miss while we are in the states, here are just a few:
“The Castle” - as we affectionately refer to our home and the Schwender’s adjoining living space
The Schwender’s – talking with Carrie over some tea, movie nights with the big projector, playing cards, praying together, sharing breakfast, afternoon cake breaks, etc, etc.
The Stewart’s and Wednesday night dinner’s at their place
Playing with all the kids (Sofia, Sasha, Izaac, Elliot, Owen, etc) and watching them grow
Hanging out and playing fun games with the Baker’s
The beauty of Prague in the fall
My yoga studio
The Christmas markets
Christmas with our Prague family
Czech beer
Hearing Czech (although I will be very relieved to hear English and be able to communicate I think I will miss hearing Czech a little – it is a beautiful language)
The ease of public transportation (although I won’t miss the crowds)
All the cute little coffee places
The view of the castle overlooking the river
And so much more…
Well, here’s to Prague and to the States - my two homes. I’m glad I get to spend time in both of them.
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany
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A Quick Review of the Week
Well, this has been a really good week. We got to spend time with the Bakers and Schwenders at the Letna Beer Gardens, we had dinner with the Stewarts, I visisted with Laura and her two little boys at their new house, we had lunch at a new vegetarian place with some old family friends who were visiting Prague, I went to my prenatal yoga class, some friends gave us a bunch of baby cloths, we went for a beautiful walk near the Botanical gardens, a friend took some free maternity photos for us, and we got a lot of stuff crossed of our list of things to do before going to the states. We even started packing - which might seem a little weird since we still have about 9 days before we leave, but since it’s such a long trip it felt good to start figuring out what we will bring.
We are getting more and more excited for our trip back to the states. We both continue to feel really good about the decision and to look forward to some extended time with family and friends in the states. As it gets closer though there are moments when I feel more and more sad about not being in Prague. There are definately things we will miss - or more accurately people we will miss here.
Anyway, that’s the quick update. Here are a few pictures of my belly that Bryan took this week.
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman
Baby Shower
On Friday a few friends here threw me a beautiful and intimate baby shower. It was such a blessing. You can read more about it on my other blog HERE.
Here are a few pictures from the evening:
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany
Trip to Germany
Can I just say that I love our neighbors! I am very happy that we share a flat with Carrie and Mathias Schwender. This past weekend the four of us took a little road trip to visit Mathias’ family in Germany. We had a really nice time meeting his family and seeing where he grew up and we hope there will be more Schwender-Stedman trips in the future. Here are some pictures from our weekend:
these are Mathias’ dad’s goats
Coffee and Cake Break - a very good German tradition
Here’s Bryan having fun at our pub outing
and here’s my giant belly!
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany
Some belly pics
Honestly, these past two weeks haven’t been all that fun. Bryan was sick for a while and then I was sick all last week. I turned 27 last week, which felt good – 27 feels like a good age - but being sick made it not the greatest birthday. We also had some tests at the hospital and spent a good deal of the last two weeks figuring out Czech hospital stuff which can be a bit frustrating at time. So, not much to write about the past two weeks, but I wanted to share a few of the most recent pictures of my belly. It’s getting big =)
This is my I’m sad I’m sick and so uncomfortable on my birthday face
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany
Going to the States for the Birth
Well, it’s official. We have our tickets and we are coming back to the states for the birth of our baby boy. We leave Prague on August 21st and we will be returning sometime mid-January (after John’s wedding – hooray for them!)
It was a difficult decision to be gone from Prague for close to 5 months, but we both feel really good about it and feel like it is the right decision for us and our baby at this time. There are things that we will miss being gone from Prague for that long, especially a handful of wonderful friends here that we will really miss a lot. But, we are looking forward to this extended time in the states. Not only will it be great to be around family and old friends for this life changing event in our lives, it will also be nice to have this little hiatus from normal life in Prague and hopefully give us a chance to think and pray and come back with renewed vision for our future.
We will be spending most of the time while we are in the states in Arizona and working with a midwife there who we are both loving. We hope to make it up to Seattle for Thanksgiving and we may have to go out to LA for a quick trip in order to apply for the baby’s visa, but we are not sure yet on travel plans while we are there or how much we will want to travel with a new baby. We do hope to see as many of you as possible while we are there though and introduce you to our little boy! J
We love you all!
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany
A Goodbye
A week ago today our good friends, Craig and Sarah Springer, who have also served as our pastors for the past two and a half years moved back to the states. This was really the first time since moving here were people we were really close with, people we saw multiple times a week and shared intimate parts of our life with moved away from Prague. It was sad and I’m still processing all that I feel around their leaving. But, I also am excited for them as they set off on another adventure and listen to God’s leading in their lives. I pray that God would bless them as they return to the states and provide a place for them. Here are a few pictures from our last few days with them:
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany
Another New Baby in the Family
A few weeks ago my sister had her third child, a beautiful little girl. Her name is Adalyn Brianne and I LOVE her!
Circle Adalyn, Lord.
Keep comfort near
and discouragement afar.
Keep peace within
and turmoil out.
The eternal Father, Son and Holy Spirit
shield Adalyn on every side.
Amen.
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany
Francian Wedding
Bryan’s younger uncle, Geoff, just got married and we were so glad that we were able to be there and celebrate with them. It was a truly beautiful wedding. Here’s some pictures from the big event:
Christ, King of tenderness,
Christ, King of tenderness,
bind them with a bond
that cannot be broken.
Bind them with a bond of love
that cannot be broken.
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany