I don't usually make New Year's resolutions...

...but this one is different. This year needs to be about Jesus, not me.

I have been struggling recently with true worship. My heart doesn't seem like it has been in the right place. When I read my Bible, when I pray, even during worship and sermons at church, I have a hard time focusing and really listening to what God is trying to tell me. Not that my faith has wavered or that I love God any less, I just don't feel like it has been enough. So, I prayed recently that God would break me. That he would help me leave my distractions and worries at His feet and truly get back in touch with Him. I would love to have that FIRE I had when I first became a Christian almost 9 years ago! Well, I believe these are some of His favorite prayers...and He has answered me. I can't put into words everything that has been going on in my heart and mind over the last week or so, but I know that He is truly working on me! I have been thirsting for Him more, and wanting practical ideas from HIM about how to know Him better and faithfully keep Him the center of my life.

One of the things He has put on my heart is not only to read His Word more faithfully, but to memorize it! So, I thought...I won't try to make some huge New Year's Resolution like I have in the past. (You know...the one where I always fall flat on my discouraged face in February or March, and ignore until the following January?!) I thought...I bet I could at least memorize 2 scriptures a month, and that will be a springboard to other Christ-centered goals I can set later in the year. (I don't know what those are yet, but my very mathematical mind likes to have clear "goals.")

Well, I was reading the Living Proof Ministries blog (Beth Moore's blog) the other day, and guess what she challenged the sisters to? Memorize 2 scriptures a month! I think God was telling me to get off my rear and start claiming His Word and keeping it in my heart! (This might sound like a huge duh! to a lot of you, but to me...it was just the kick I needed.)

She is a much better writer than me, so I will let her explain better. Here is an excerpt from some of what Beth Moore says in her blog:
"Listen, the whole purpose of the process is to take our minds captive to the knowledge of Christ and demolish strongholds or nip potential ones in the proverbial bud. As long as those Scriptures are rolling around in your head, your mind is being held captive to Christ-centered thoughts and led away from destructive or carnal thoughts whether or not you're getting the words in the exact right order. At least three huge things happen when we memorize: our brains are bathed. Our brains are sharpened. Our ammunition is loaded.

Scripture memorization has been among the most profoundly effective disciplines of the faith that God has ever given me to practice. Honestly, I think I would've lost my mind by now if He had not pasted His Word all over it. Every personal battle we face is won or lost on the playing field of our mind. I'm deeply serious when I tell you that I have some ongoing areas of relational challenge that would absolutely overtake my thought life with anxiety, fear, resentment and bitterness if I didn't grab my index cards at critical moments and start saying my Scriptures. I did it as recently as yesterday when, concerning a particular situation, I thought to myself, "I cannot take this again." It calmed me and kept me from acting like I felt. And then I slowly felt better. Scripture memory has long since been a necessity for victory for me. My mind is very prone to obsessive thoughts. I've never broken a single stronghold without deliberately repeating Scriptures more times than my mind could repeat a destructive or unhealthy thought. The Truth finally trumps the lie or comforts the hurt. God prevails and I get the victory. This is the essence of 2 Cor. 10:3-5."

Beth Moore is claiming this as a "Jesus-year," and that is exactly what I need! I have bought my notebook to keep them in-- it will stay in my purse...feel free to keep me accountable if you see me out and about and ask me to say it for you! :) I will post on the 1st and 15th of each month my current memory verse, and keep it on my mirror on a sticky note. I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me this year! Anyone want to join me?

I will go ahead and post my first verse.
Matthew 6:33- "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."



Happy New Year, my friends! I pray the Lord blesses and protects each and every one of you throughout 2009! I am so very thankful for each of you, and pray that "just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."- Colossians 2:6-7

My New Obsession...

My favorite Christmas present was my new camera (which seems to work every time I push the shutter button...amazing!), so I imagine I will be posting plenty of pictures in 2009! I have really enjoyed posting and viewing photos through the December Photo Project, and it has really gotten me interested in photography. Most of the other DPP contributors are very talented photographers, but I appreciate them allowing me to participate anyways. :) Now I need to learn more, and get better at using my new little camera!

There were still a few photos from December that I wanted to blog about, and didn't get to in the first 25 posts. :) (These were all taken from my old camera, btw...so I hope new pictures from now on will look better...my new camera has 6.3 more mega-pixels than my old!)

The first is an apple pie that Kris and I made together on Christmas Eve. We have decided to make it a tradition to bake a few pies together on Christmas Eve to take to the dinners we attend with family. Neither of us have ever been that great at baking, and decided to try it together! :) (We also baked a chocolate pie...but it did not come out so lovely or tasty!) But the apple was DELICIOUS! and really pretty! We were very proud. :)

The second is just a fun picture of Emmalyn grinning at me...over my 23 week baby belly. :)
The third (and fourth) are of the quilt I made for my sister for Christmas. She has so frequently made me such beautiful gifts, I was proud this year to learn to use my sewing skills (as weak as they are) to make her something. I loved the pattern, and I think she liked it! :)
A close-up of one of the tiles. (The ones with writing are all verses from the Bible.)

So....here's to more pics in 2009! And if any of you have any photography tips or places I can learn more about what makes an interesting photo, I would love to hear it!!!

DPP: December 25th

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." -Luke 2:9-12

Thank you, Lord for coming to this world as a tiny baby, to live a life as a human, to show us how to live! Thank you for sharing the story in your Word so that we can all know the love you showed and the sacrifice you gave on the cross! Thank you for taking my sins, and for calling me into a relationship with you! What a blessing we have in your grace, and I am eternally grateful for the Hope I have in YOU!

I really couldn't take a picture on Christmas Day that would properly reflect the meaning of the day. So, I found some great pictures online to illustrate the blessing of Christmas.

Kris and I discussed quite a bit this year about how to make Christmas truly about Christ, without seaming like scrooges that didn't want to shower our child with presents. But it is not about the presents, and we want her to understand that as she grows up. We didn't do much with her this year, other than read the Christmas story...but we have thought of a few things to do as traditions that will help us remember to focus on our savior, not on the commercialism that Christmas has become. It is hard for us too...we had so much fun watching her open and enjoy all of her presents! What fun Christmas is with a little one!!!

But...our ideas, thus far:

*Set up the nativity as a family, telling the story as we do it.

*Make a birthday cake for Jesus.

*Read the Christmas story on Christmas eve.

*Sing more Christian Christmas songs than the commercial carols.

*Watch the movie The Nativity Story on Christmas night.

*We won't push the Santa thing. (The verdict is still out on whether we will do Santa at all, we are still discussing and praying about how we will handle that.)

Any other ideas? Please share! I would love to learn from those of you that have experienced Christmas with children so much more than I have!

I do pray that each of you had a wonderful Christmas and took time to reflect on the love of our savior this year!!! Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!!!

"Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." -Psalm 100:3-5

DPP: December 24th

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!

We are so very thankful for all the blessings God has showered us with this year! We pray you each have a WONDERFUL Christmas, and an abundantly blessed 2009!

DPP: December 23rd

This is as close to Santa as Emmalyn was willing to get. Clinging to Grandpa with her life! She is not a fan of strangers recently....especially big red ones with huge beards!

DPP: December 22nd

As we tried to get a good photo for the Christmas card one day last week, we tried telling Emmalyn to say "Cheese!" This is what we got....lol! Isn't she a HAM?!

DPP: December 21st

On the way home on Sunday, we got to stop by and see one of my best friends, Pennie. She has an adorable 8 month old baby girl that I couldn't wait to see! I hadn't seen her since she was about 4 months old. Isn't she precious?! (I have decided not to mention her name, since I didn't get permission from Pennie.)

Emmalyn really loves babies...and she hugged on this precious one a LOT! :) I think she's going to make an excellent big sister to her baby brother in April. :)

(BTW...I think my c-section will be scheduled for Pennie's baby's first birthday! How fun!)

DPP: December 20th

"Iwabas! Iwabas!"...translated..."I want to bounce! I want to bounce!" This is how Emmalyn wanted to spend 100% of her time while we were at my sister's house this weekend! She absolutely loved the tampoline! She is actually screaming whining at the computer as I am looking at the picture, wanting to bounce on the imaginary trampoline that must be in our backyard. What fun!

DPP: December 19th

I love this dog. So tolerant of a rowdy, smothering toddler. So sweet and even tempered. Adorably playful. So well behaved. So good at cleaning my floors. :) We haven't had gate on our fence since Hurricane Ike (Sept. 13th), and she has yet to leave the yard! What a dog! :) Isn't she purty?!?!

btw...I will be out of town for a few days, so I will take a break from the December Photo Project until Monday. But I will hopefully return with some great family photos! :)

DPP: December 18th

A delicious Christmas tradition in my family...sausage and cheese balls. Yummy! I made them for our Sunday School Christmas party tonight. :)

2008 Through My Eyes

I read this on Melanie's and Jana's blogs, and decided to follow suit! It's a little more introspective than other surveys I have filled out. :)

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
learned how to parent a toddler! (I don't know how successful, but working on it!)

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't generally make them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yep, Jessica and Jana

4. Did anyone close to you die?
1. My Granny died last month, but I was unfortunately not as close to her as I would have liked to have been.
2. Not as close as I would have liked, but I mourn with my friend Jessica about her baby Treyson.
3. Not a big deal to non-animal lovers, and not to be measured in the same category as the first two...but I really miss my dog Spencer who died last April.

5. What countries did you visit?
stayed home in the great US of A! :)

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
I look forward to welcoming a baby BOY! :) :) :)

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
June 6th...Treyson's birthday
Sept 13th...Hurricane Ike
Dec 11th...Snow in SETX!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think I have grown a lot this year...emotionally and spiritually, as a parent, and as a wife (Maybe not by leaps and bounds, but by hopefully quite a bit.)

9. What was your biggest failure?
Still having too much debt

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
back problems/surgery...ugh!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
we are enjoying Kris's new (to us) car, and the lack of the truck payment

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Emmalyn has really started to understand more, and therefore becoming more compliant. :) :) :)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
most politicians, I think

14. Where did most of your money go?
to our bills >:(

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
finding out I am pregnant!!!

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2008?
I became all too familiar with Veggie Tales

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier/sadder,thinner/heavier,richer/poorer?
I think I am happier, unfortunately no thinner, and somehow we seem poorer...stupid inflation!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Let things go that get me down, Bible Study

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
stressed out over how to be a parent and just trusted God

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
the weekend before...with my family in Austin
Christmas Eve...with the family here, and Christmas Eve Candlelight service
Christmas Day...with my little family here, then the big family at Grandma's house

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
my sister

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
yes! with this little boy growing inside of me!

23. How many one night stands in this last year?
dumb question...even for those who have had them...are there many people that would answer this honestly?

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy and CSI: New York for me, Backyardigans and Disney Playhouse shows to keep the munchkin happy! :)

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone...such a strong word!

26. What was the best book(s) you read?
I wish I could answer this question with a great American novel or life-changing Christian motivational book, but alas...I do not read very much. I read the Bible though...and that is THE BOOK! :)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
my iPod! and how to work it...I love it!!!

28. What did you want and get?
I guess my iPod

29. What did you want and not get?
probably a lot of material things that don't matter anyway....

30. What were your favorite films of this year?
I really loved Fireproof...I can't think of any other greats this year

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 30!, and my sweet hubby threw me a great surprise party with my closest friends on the night before we evacuated for Hurricane Gustav. Then we got to go to a nice dinner in central TX with both sides of the family and one of my closest friends, Jennifer...it was a great 30th! :)

32. What's one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being able to end 2008 debt free...I think I must ditto Melanie and Jana on this one!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
trying to look cute on a budget! and stuff that fits around my ever growing waist line for the last few months!

34. What kept you sane?
Kris...I don't know what I would do without him!.....and truly relying on God to meet our needs and take care of us. (even that reminder usually comes from Kris!)

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I really liked Mike Huckabee and wish he would have at least been the VP candidate

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
murder...I mean...abortion

37. Who did you miss?
my mom...a lot this year

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Michael is also my favorite new person...I love my new friend!!! I have also met a few new moms at MOPS, and they are great...I look forward to getting to know them better.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
There is great peace in really giving your problems to God, and learning to truly let go and let Him carry you! Sure wish I had actually experienced this years ago!

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
"From the Inside Out," by Hillsong United is my favorite new worship song, and expresses how I feel all to often this year!:

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

DPP: December 17th

I love the look of pretty wrapped Christmas presents under the tree!

DPP: December 16th

A beautiful ornament I got at the MOPS ornament exchange last week...I love it!

The back says "Taste and see that the LORD is good"- Psalm 34:8

DPP: December 15th

Fun at the local Christmas parade on Daddy's shoulders. :)

DPP: December 14th

mmmmmmmm....Makes coffee taste like you are drinking an Andes Mint! YUM! YUM!

DPP: December 13th

Emmalyn was excitedly watching Daddy set up her "choo!choo!" around the Christmas tree!

DPP: December 12th

The "Cheese!" face while playing with Daddy's Wii remotes:

And a bonus "Cheese!" face because I just love her eyes in this photo. :)

DPP: December 11th...SNOW!

What a mighty God we serve! He blessed us with SNOW on the ground this morning! It simply does not snow around Southeast Texas, let alone stick like this! There was a beautiful blanket of white over our whole yard! So fun!
As soon as Emmalyn woke up, I got her dressed and we went outside to play! She absolutely loved it!

Here we are together, with Hurricane Ike damage in the background...the downed greenhouse. :)

***LOTS more pictures HERE.

And you should check out my column of "blogging friends" on the right...lots of fun pics of Southeast Texas snow! :) :) :)

DPP: December 10th

I couldn't pick just one picture from today...so here are a few. :)

Tonight was our annual Christmas concert at church, and it was C-O-L-D!!! (As I write this, at 10:15pm, it is snowing in the closest big city!) I think it was in the mid-30's, and there was yucky, cold rain. So, Emmalyn actually got to wear her big coat. (One of very few days she will get to wear it here in Southeast Texas.) She thought it was so funny...and I thought she looked a little like the kid from "A Christmas Story."
The concert was fun! Here are a couple of pictures of some of our friends' children during the kid's part of the concert. Too cute!

Jessica, recognize the (bored) little blond in the center? lol!

Kris and I have made it a tradition in the last couple years to go get Starbucks afterwards and drive around to look at Christmas lights. I have really enjoyed this, and this year...so did Emmalyn! :)

Here is a (somewhat blurry...sorry) picture of a house near us that goes WAY overboard! But Emmalyn thoroughly enjoyed it! :)

I love Christmas time! :)

DPP: December 9th

I did some baking/cooking on Tuesday. Buckeyes (peanut butter/powdered sugar concoctions dipped in chocolate) for MOPS this morning, and a Boston Creme Pie for hubby! It was fun! YUM! YUM!

DPP: December 8th

And the stockings are hung by the....wall (?!)...with care. I love my stockings, but how I long for a chimney and fireplace...*sigh*.

DPP: December 7th

I didn't take it, but it had to be today's picture! Emmalyn and her friend Raylen wore similar dresses in the church nursery today, and one of our favorite nursery workers snapped a photo with her camera phone! Thanks, Cindy!!!!! Aren't they adorable?!!

Edited to add.....this photo taken of the BFF's in March of 2007 when the girls were less than 2 months old. Isn't this a fun comparison? :)

Look forward to another with their friend Sarah, b/c she has a similar dress, and we will put all 3 precious girls in them in a few weeks! :)

The Angels are Rejoicing

My Granny went to be with the Lord this morning. Thank you for your prayers and support, friends! Please continue to pray for my dad as he travels alone to Memphis tomorrow (Monday) for the Tuesday funeral and for the rest of my family as we mourn the loss of an amazing woman. She will me missed so very much.

She lived a wonderful, long life...96 years! She was a mother to 3, grandmother to 6, and a great-grandmother to 9 (10 if you include my little bun in the oven)! She was ready, and now gets to be with her mother who she has not seen in 93 years, her husband, and her other beloved family members that went before her, not to mention my momma! AND...she is now in the presence of the LORD!!! What an incredible thought! Can you imagine?! It is never easy to lose someone you love, but we were blessed beyond measure to have her for as long as we did, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that she had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and I will see her again one day! As Kris said, "It's not goodbye, it's 'see you later'!" Praise the Lord for the hope we have in Christ Jesus!!!

Our pastor preached a great sermon on our HOPE this morning, and it was perfect timing for me! Here is one of the verses that touched my heart and that I am meditating on today.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13

DPP: December 6th

Here is what December 6th looked like through my eyes:

Can I tell you how much I hate garage sales?!?! They are so much work, and you never make enough money to really make it worth it. BUT...we are really in need of some extra cash right now, so I put myself through it. THEN....I FORGOT TO PUT UP SIGNS! Can you believe that?! It is hard to remember everything for a garage sale by yourself when you have only ever done one...especially when the "one" in charge has pregnancy brain!!! So, as expected, it was really a flop. We hardly sold anything, and made only $164. Oh, but we did sell Kris's aquarium and stand to be picked up Thursday, so that will be another $100. :) :) :)

We aren't happy holding onto all of this stuff, so we will be making signs and doing it all again next Saturday! So....anyone local have anything they would like to contribute? And anyone want to come buy our useless junk priceless treasures?! :)

And Jana, I apologize for dropping the ball picking up your stuff. Pregnancy brain sucks! lol I will come get it this week if you are still interested! :)

DPP: December 5th

Mealtime doesn't happen around here without a mutt patiently waiting for crumbs to fall from the toddler's chair! :)
Funny enough...she keeps me from having to sweep or mop very often! :) And as soon as the baby is out of the chair...Mocha's head is in there, scavenging for crumbs. But I promise, we DO feed this dog!!!

December Photo Project

My friend Kristy did this last year, and I really enjoyed seeing a photo from her home every day, so I think I am going to give it a try this year. The idea is to share a photo each day, to illustrate what December looks like through your eyes. SO, I will be snapping a picture and sharing it with all of you each day for the first 25 days of December...I hope you enjoy!!! If you would like to see all the other great blogs taking part, or sign up for yourself, go HERE.

I am a few days behind, so here are the first 4 from my home...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... [I love my gargantuous tree! :)]

My pretty lighted tree on my table...
And Kris played THIS while I was decorating! :) Emmalyn as she watches "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" for the very first time...mesmerizing!

Little sister or brother???

Well, we found out today that Emmalyn is getting a little .....

Brother!!!!!

We are very excited!!! Little Man did not shy away at all on the sonogram, and we are positive! :) :) :) Kris is excited to have a little boy to teach to play golf and video games, and I am excited to get to raise a girl AND a boy! :)

Everything seemed fine and healthy, except the placenta is a little too close to the cervical opening and old c-section scar. Because I will have a repeat c-section, this is a little worrisome. But, I trust that it is in God's hands. Please pray with us that it moves as the uterus grows. (The docor said that is very possible.) Other than that, our little 12 ounce baby looks great!!! Praise GOD!!!

Would you pray for my family?

My Granny was taken to the hospital for pneumonia on Saturday. She is 96 years old(as of Nov.19th), and lives in a nursing home in Memphis, TN. It is not a surprise, nor will we take any measures to prolong her life...per her request as well. She has lived a very full, blessed life, and has been ready to see Jesus, her husband, and her mom (who died when she was only 3) for a few years now. The prayers will mainly be for my dad and his 2 sisters. We all know that this has been coming, and that it is best. But it is never easy to lose your mom. It will be sad for all of us to lose her. We have been SO VERY blessed to have her for as long as we have, and are praising the LORD today for that! Please pray the she is kept comfortable and will not be in pain. We love you Granny! Here is a picture of her and me, taken about 4½ years ago before she was living in the nursing home. It was a sweet visit where I got to look through lots of pictures and stroll down memory lane with her. I will never forget that week with Granny!

Our Thanksgiving

was an eventful one! BUT...my camera wouldn't cooperate! It has a mind of it's own, and decides when it does and doesn't want to take a picture. So, no pics of Thanksgiving 2008. :(

We had a good time, though! We headed to Central Texas to see my family on Wednesday, with a car full of stuff and a dog because I managed to completely forget to make boarding arrangements! But she was a good dog, and stayed quiet the whole time...which is more than I could say for the toddler! She is better these days in the car, less screaming, but there is still the bored whining and exclaiming "DOWN" every 30 minutes or so. We packed an arsenal of snacks, toys, and the portable DVD player, but these are only exciting for so long to an active toddler! :) She also doesn't sleep in the car very well, or in strange houses...so she ends up whiny and overtired every time we travel. I hope she outgrows this and travels better in future years!!! But my family still enjoyed spending time with her, and the constant attention of an aunt, Grandaddy, and 5 cousins helps keep her happy! :) Thanksgiving day was fun, spending time eating and spending time with the family I am so grateful for!

And Friday, well...that was an adventure! I have never been the type to want to brave the stores on that day, but this year, I really wanted a new camera, and I figured the only way to afford one this gloomy financial year was to get my behind out there on ...BLACK FRIDAY! So, since I was already out there, I might as well make the most of it, right? On Thursday, I scoured the advertisements and created my list and plan of action. Kris made fun of me all night as I sat making my note cards with the store names, items being hunted(complete with quoted prices), and the time in which the stores opened...to put the cards in order, of course! (If I had a working camera, I might show you this hilarity!)

Friday morning hit, and hubby stayed home with the sleeping baby, and Dad and I headed to Target at 5:30a.m., to wait in line for a 6a.m. opening! It wasn't too bad, since I was in a relatively small town, and I GOT MY CAMERA(WOOHOO!) and was out of there (with a few other gift items) by 6:30! :)

While we were out, we also went to JCPenney, Macy's, and Lifeway. (I did vow to remain far far away from the likes of WalMart and ToysRUs!) I struck out on the perfect holiday dress I wanted for Emmalyn, but did get some really good deals on some gift items and some boots that I have been wanting forever! And we were home from all of this by 9:15a.m.! All in all, it was really fun...and this just might have to be a tradition! :) :) :) Next year, we will be here at home, so...who's joining me?

The rest of Friday was a relaxing day with Dad, complete with a trip to a really great park that Emmalyn thoroughly enjoyed, and dinner at a yummy restaurant!

Saturday, my sister planned a surprise for just the two of us, and Kris took our oldest nephew to play golf. Kim and I ended up getting really great pedicures, complete with Starbucks coffee! I also got my nails painted...I haven't even painted my own since I have been a mom! lol! She and I had a WONDERFUL time getting pampered, and spending time with just the two of us! Thanks again, Kim, it was great!!! And thanks to the other nieces and nephew that entertained my daughter while I had fun! We also got to enjoy Eddie's B-B-Q for dinner...that is always a treat! :)

We headed home yesterday (Sunday), and even though poor baby had diarrhea and we had to change her diaper 5 times on the way home, made it home to be grateful for another trip to see family! We also got to enjoy a "Friend's Thanksgiving" meal with our friends James and Kristin last night!

We have so much to be grateful for, and I am praising Jesus for providing all of this for us! Thank you, LORD, for our relationship with you and the countless blessings you have given us this year!!!

What are you loving today?

Do you ever get in a rut, where you feel like you are just going through the motions in life, not really experiencing it? I feel like that right now. I don't feel like I am doing anything great for the Lord or for my family. So, I got to thinking about what I do have to be grateful for, things that are making me smile today. Maybe this will get me some motivation to get off my rear and do something.

Today, I am grateful for and loving:

*Receiving more and more unsolicited hugs and kisses from my 21 month old...she is such a loving little girl!!! Last night we started walking to her room to go "night night," and she stopped dead in her tracks to turn around and run to Daddy to give him a hug and kiss, then came back to follow me to her room. Daddy and I both swelled with pride and love!!!!!!

*Feeling the new life in my womb wiggle around for the first times in the last week. This is my favorite part of pregnancy, by far!!!

*Watching God move in my friend's lives, especially in Jessica and Megan with their project Treyson's Purpose. I can't wait to see what God is going to do with them! I can't wait to help, too! :)

*Listening to Emmalyn jabber more and more recently. The inflections are so funny!!!

*Getting to cuddle with Emmalyn this morning and she and I both tried to wake up. :)

*The time with friends this week. I spent a great morning Tuesday with my friend Jana just shopping and eating together. Such a sweet time together with friends! And yesterday was MOPS, where I got to see most of my mommy friends and go to lunch with a new friend, Crystal. Time with friends always refreshes me!

*The time recently with my hubby! We had a date this past weekend, and have had some great conversations the last few nights, and I am so grateful for this kind, funny, sweet hubby!!!

SO, friends...share with me! Comment and tell me what YOU are grateful for today!!!

I am off to try to spend some time in the Word and ask the Lord for HIS promises to refresh and motivate me!!! Oh, and maybe I'll try to get some housework done today!!!

Acts 3:19- "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

Womb Baby, 15 (and a half!) Weeks

Looking more and more like a pretty human baby these days! :) :) :)

So, here is how our little blessing is growing right about now, according to BabyCenter.com! :)

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. (That is simply amazing to me! That means if I am carrying around a baby girl, I am carrying around the eggs that could someday become my grandbabies! WILD!!!)

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. I can't wait to see all of this on the ultrasound!

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

And I will be 16 weeks tomorrow, and this is what they have to say about that week:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

We have scheduled the ultrasound for Dec. 3rd, where we will find out the sex of the baby this time! :) :) I know it really stressed some friends and family not knowing last time, so I'm sure they will be happy now...right Pennie?!?! I have felt a few little movements, but not many. I so look forward to feeling him/her all of the time! Emmalyn loves to take care of her baby dolls and kiss mommy's tummy, so I think she is going to be a very sweet big sister! This pregnancy is moving a lot faster than the last, I better get moving on Emmalyn's new room to make room for the baby in the nursery!

Fall Festival 2008

Last Wednesday evening we went to the Fall Festival at our church, and Emmalyn had SUCH a good time! She went in a little Chinese Kimono, we called her our little Chinese Missionary, or China Doll. It was so precious!

Our happy little China Doll:

This pose just ended up looking like a little doll!:
This is her seeing the camera and automatically saying "CHEESE!"

She spent most of her time playing in the toddler area that had this great ball pit...

and these cars that she just thought were fantastic! :)

She loved the thumb printing...

and being allowed to play with icing and sprinkles as she decorated a cookie...

It was a really fun night with our little toddler! Can't wait to see how much more fun she will have next year...and we will have a 6 month old in costume, too! :)

BTW...really funny fact...as I was about to blog about this, I zoomed around my friends' blogs, and discovered that Emmalyn's little friend in California wore the same costume! What are the odds?! Her mom and dad even got into it...you should go check our Kristy's blog! :) [Her mom actually spent a summer in Japan as a missionary, and met her hubby there...their costumes were much more relative to their cool life story. :) Emmalyn ended up in this dress b/c we just happened to find it in the gift shop of a Chinese restaurant and thought it was adorable! :) ]

There are more pictures HERE. Jessica and Michael, you really need to check them out b/c there are a few cute pics of your little ones! :)