So-it was Monday-you know that dreaded day to start your work week off. The one where you feel tired because you packed your weekend too full. But this Monday was different. This was my last Monday teaching...and not just for the summer. My new job starts Monday June 6th. I didn't interview for this job-God just gave it to me! He has provided and given our family what I know He intended for our family-the time for me to raise our kids at home as a mommy.
I went to the hospital tonight to see a friend who is about to have her first baby-a boy. It was so surreal. Even though my baby is 9 months old now, it still seems like yesterday I was going to the same hospital to check in to meet this precious gift God gave to us. Then I get the word that my best friend from high school is going to have her twins tomorrow morning! I am so giddy with excitement for my friends who are about to begin their new journey as mommies tonight and tomorrow!
As this new chapter is beginning in my life, I think I am more nervous and excited for this job than any other job I have ever had. I can't wait to be a full time helpmate to my husband and I can't wait to raise our daughter at home. However, I don't really feel qualified for this job. I have so much to learn (like cooking!) and so much patience to practice as a full time parent at home, who is setting up a new house and learning a new town all at once! Wonder why God thought of me for this job? All I know-through Him I will learn everything I need to get through whatever is ahead for our family-and I can't wait to see what is ahead.
Thanks to my wonderful hubby! You are the best gift in human form that God could have ever given me!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
My Cinderella Story
Mark 11:22-25
"'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. 'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins'"
Psalm 25:1
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; In you I Trust, O my God.
Phillipians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
"'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. 'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins'"
Psalm 25:1
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; In you I Trust, O my God.
Phillipians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossions 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
No-a fairy god-mother didn't come and wave her magic wand and make all the world right around me. But my God did melt my heart and mold me through this prayer journey. I feel changed-accept I know that when midnight or whatever comes-my change doesn't go back. I began this journey for personal prayer growth. I knew I should pray but rarely did I make a habit of it nor did I feel a personal growth in my relationship with God. But I didn't enjoy it and I always felt like I was just asking a genie in a lamp for request-very one-sided wishful thinking. But now I see how it is so much more a conversation of my heart with my Creator. This conversation doesn't always go where I want it to but because I know that my God wants what is best for me and He is so crafty at bringing my heart to want what is best for me, I have learned to wait, watch, be patient, and look for God's ever-present peace, strength, wisdom in whatever situation I am facing.
Back many years ago-a decade-I made the decision to become a teacher. I was not happy in my major my freshman year of college and I loved helping kids learn something new. I also knew that I could move to where ever and pretty much find a job teaching kids. WOW-did God know what he was doing or what? He knew that I would marry my husband and we would start our lives together in SC. He knew together we would move to Texas. Where I easily got another teaching job. I have now taught over 300 kids! But...God also put another desire in my heart.
I have always wanted to become a mommy. And with God's timing (certainly not mine or Jason's) he blessed us with a sweet, precious, child that we get to raise! One of the reasons we waited so long to have a baby was as many couples think-we want to be ready-HA HA! I fell in love with my daughter as soon as I laid eyes on her-especially watching in being held in her daddy's arms as he displayed a look of terror-love-awe-joy-fear all at one time. But you are never ready for the wonderful surprise parenthood brings.
Even though I love teaching and helping children learn-I hated going back to school this year. I hated leaving my beautiful child and gift from God in the care of another person. God knew this desire and He knew He was going to meet that yearning in my heart.
As of Friday, April 15th, I turned in my resignation to my school. I will finish out the school year but I am not going back next year! God has been working over time in my life and I praise him for all the blessings He has given me, is giving me, and will give me over the many years to come. We are going to move closer to family and I get to be a full time mommy to our precious baby girl! I know that the moving journey and life will not necessarily get easier. There will be challenges living as a one income family and making a home in a brand new place. But I am keeping my trust in the Lord-he has provided and I trust he will provide for our family. He has laid out the path for us to follow and opened our hearts for this change.
Even though this is an exciting time for our family, it is also a sad time. We have loved our time here in Texas. This is the first place we were able to find a church home as a married couple, we have made so many friends here and we came as a family of two and are leaving as a family of three. But again-I am trusting in God to give us a new church home and friends to live life with as we go forward.
So prayer-my magic wand-has changed me. It has made me more patient, more swift to seek God's will for my life, more open to His wisdom for the future, and placed my heart in a vulnerable, seeking, trusting relationship with my Creator. And for this I praise HIM! While the road ahead is not perfectly clear-He is there with me and I can't wait to see where He takes me!
Our Texas Bluebonnet!
Since our baby was born in Texas, we did what all trendy Texans do...drove around and found a bluebonnet field to place our baby in while we snapped a few shots! I actually looked on the internet so I wouldn't have to drive to Brenham, TX and found someone who took them almost inside the inner loop in Houston. Since it was about 30 min away, I decided to try and find the place. Here is what it looked like:
I know not so pretty right? I was forewarned that it was on fairly steep hill so I knew about the setting challenges before I got there. There was also this hideous building from the seventies near by but I made sure not to get that in our pics. So this is what we got:
I was really happy since this will probably be Spencer's only bluebonnet picture. We took some flowers with us and we are going to press them for Spencer to keep in her memory book.
I know not so pretty right? I was forewarned that it was on fairly steep hill so I knew about the setting challenges before I got there. There was also this hideous building from the seventies near by but I made sure not to get that in our pics. So this is what we got:
I was really happy since this will probably be Spencer's only bluebonnet picture. We took some flowers with us and we are going to press them for Spencer to keep in her memory book.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Trying to blog more...
So the season of Lent has been upon us for a few weeks. I hear so much about people giving up something for Lent-which is fine and good. But... that is all I hear-I gave up this or that and went to church on Ash Wednesday. What does that do or mean really? Does it really show others around you the gift and ultimate sacrifice that our God gave us through his Son? Really-aren't you supposed to give up something so you can focus more on God and what His sacrifice meant for our lives? I was raised Baptist-Southern Baptist to be exact-and would still say I have a Baptist mindset although I have some differing opinions with Southern Baptist now. But regardless of denomination-I like the idea of Lent. More specifically the focus on the reason for our Easter season. So this season, I decided to focus more on prayer and use Facebook to help me. My life would be vastly different without facebook-but I digress because all of ours would be-but for this purpose it has really helped me reach beyond the scope of my everyday "wants" and focus on the "needs" of the world around me.
This journey has been interesting-and a blessing-to say the least. So much has happened that I have learned to pray for and through it all-God has been good-is good-and always will be good. The best part of this journey-by having more than just my prayer requests to focus on and lay at God's feet-I have been able to see so many more answered prayer request of those around me. And the more answered prayer request-the more I praise my Creator. I am able to understand more fully how prayer may not change the situation or give us the answer we want-but it helps us appreciate and see exactly how God has His hands in every situation in our lives. For me it has been cyclical-I pray for others-see God's answers-I grow in my faith in Him and praise him for his providence in it all-pray for myself and others-become more patient because I am faithful He will answer in His will as He has done in the past for me and those around me-and I see his answers- and I continue to pray.
Does this mean that "all is good?" No-there have been tears along the way and I still am waiting patiently but faithfully that He will, as He always does, answer in His time and will. I trust that He does know best and His timing is always right. This prayer journey has also made me focus on where I place my value-and I am still learning to completely rely on Him.
But through it all-I feel so much more peace. The peace that passes all understanding-that in the midst of a storm-there is calm.
And the journey continues...
This journey has been interesting-and a blessing-to say the least. So much has happened that I have learned to pray for and through it all-God has been good-is good-and always will be good. The best part of this journey-by having more than just my prayer requests to focus on and lay at God's feet-I have been able to see so many more answered prayer request of those around me. And the more answered prayer request-the more I praise my Creator. I am able to understand more fully how prayer may not change the situation or give us the answer we want-but it helps us appreciate and see exactly how God has His hands in every situation in our lives. For me it has been cyclical-I pray for others-see God's answers-I grow in my faith in Him and praise him for his providence in it all-pray for myself and others-become more patient because I am faithful He will answer in His will as He has done in the past for me and those around me-and I see his answers- and I continue to pray.
Does this mean that "all is good?" No-there have been tears along the way and I still am waiting patiently but faithfully that He will, as He always does, answer in His time and will. I trust that He does know best and His timing is always right. This prayer journey has also made me focus on where I place my value-and I am still learning to completely rely on Him.
But through it all-I feel so much more peace. The peace that passes all understanding-that in the midst of a storm-there is calm.
And the journey continues...
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Our Sixth Month Old Princess
I can't believe that sixth months has come and gone since we were blessed with our beautiful daughter! So much has changed in the last six months and it keeps changing everyday. So Spencer, here is what you are up to now:
-You have been sleeping through the night since you were 3 months old. You get sleepy around 7:30 or 8:00 and after nursing, you go right to bed. You love your crib and are all smiles in the morning when we wake you up!
-You started eating solids on February 12th-you had sweet potatoes but you weren't too sure about what to do with them. Watching you learn to eat is bittersweet because we know you are growing up so fast!
-Your daddy can make you squeal with laughter. Your face brightens every time you see him.
-You still love nursing like the night you were born.
-You got your first illness two weeks before you were six months. You had bronchitis and we took you to the doctor because of your fever. However, from the smile on your face, we would could not really tell you had a 102 degree fever.
-You are sitting up now and grabbing every thing you see. Then you put it in your mouth. You can get your booty in the air and push your head up with your hands but you haven't quite gotten the hang of doing both things at the same time so you can start crawling.
-You love to be outside and look around. We took you to the park and you love to swing in the big girl swing and have the breeze blow through your hair which seems to be getting blonder.
-On your progress report at school, they wrote that you were the most contented child they had ever seen and the ladies at church would agree too! You smile at everyone you meet and hardly ever fuss over anything.
-You have taken 3 planes rides in your short life and have been perfect on every flight.
-Evee loves to give you kisses and you love to pet her. Tilly is still not too sure about being your friend yet.
-You have already visited Clemson and seen your Uncle Will graduate. You had an awesome time and mommy and daddy agree that orange is your color!
-You had a wonderful first Christmas and you even saw your first snow.
We know that you will keep bringing us smiles and we can't wait to see what your future brings as you grow into our little lady! We love you!
Your beautiful smile!
Our adorable Clemson Tiger!
You with a pillow made by you great-great-grandma!
Your first swing in the park!
And your favorite time of the day!
-You have been sleeping through the night since you were 3 months old. You get sleepy around 7:30 or 8:00 and after nursing, you go right to bed. You love your crib and are all smiles in the morning when we wake you up!
-You started eating solids on February 12th-you had sweet potatoes but you weren't too sure about what to do with them. Watching you learn to eat is bittersweet because we know you are growing up so fast!
-Your daddy can make you squeal with laughter. Your face brightens every time you see him.
-You still love nursing like the night you were born.
-You got your first illness two weeks before you were six months. You had bronchitis and we took you to the doctor because of your fever. However, from the smile on your face, we would could not really tell you had a 102 degree fever.
-You are sitting up now and grabbing every thing you see. Then you put it in your mouth. You can get your booty in the air and push your head up with your hands but you haven't quite gotten the hang of doing both things at the same time so you can start crawling.
-You love to be outside and look around. We took you to the park and you love to swing in the big girl swing and have the breeze blow through your hair which seems to be getting blonder.
-On your progress report at school, they wrote that you were the most contented child they had ever seen and the ladies at church would agree too! You smile at everyone you meet and hardly ever fuss over anything.
-You have taken 3 planes rides in your short life and have been perfect on every flight.
-Evee loves to give you kisses and you love to pet her. Tilly is still not too sure about being your friend yet.
-You have already visited Clemson and seen your Uncle Will graduate. You had an awesome time and mommy and daddy agree that orange is your color!
-You had a wonderful first Christmas and you even saw your first snow.
We know that you will keep bringing us smiles and we can't wait to see what your future brings as you grow into our little lady! We love you!
Your beautiful smile!
Our adorable Clemson Tiger!
You with a pillow made by you great-great-grandma!
Your first swing in the park!
And your favorite time of the day!
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