An Update

I realized today that I have not given any updates on my son in quite some time.  This is mostly because, well, nothing has really changed.  He is still on three different blood pressure medications.  And we are still supposed to take his blood pressure frequently.  As he gets older (and thus, more active) this is more and more of a challenge.  It's pretty near impossible to get an accurate blood pressure reading for a squirmy, mad baby.  So we are lucky if we get a reading even once a day.  It's to the point now where we can pretty much only get it if he is sleeping.  But he is RARELY sleeping at the time when we are supposed to check it.  Of course.  So we do the best we can. 

He is still on a special preemie formula that has extra calories.  This is helpful because he has a hard time finishing his bottles, so even though he may not be eating as many ounces in a day that other babies his age are, he is getting extra calories to make up for it.  So he is still growing big and strong.  He hasn't been weighed in a while, but I think he is around 12 pounds, and about 23 inches long. 

Other than that, he is really healthy.  Thankfully, we made it through flu season without catching anything at all, so no more time was spent in the hospital.  He is a very happy and social baby, and loves to be talked to and smiled at.  He coos and babbles and smiles all the time, which is a great sign.  He is now sucking on his fingers a lot, which is also a big developmental milestone.  He is also surprisingly mobile.  He likes to kick and wiggle a lot, so he scoots and turns all over the place.  He also likes to push off with his feet whether he's on his tummy or his back, so sometimes he really gets around.

The newest thing he can do is flip from his tummy to his back.  Unfortunately, we have yet to witness this amazing feat.  He's done it twice in the last couple of days, but has been in his crib both times.  I'm hoping to catch it on video sometime soon!  

Well, I think that's all for now.  Thank you for your continued prayers!

Sunshine Award!

Glenda, over at Me and Mine in a Small Town, has awarded me the Sunshine Award!  Thank you so VERY much! :)

This award is given to blogs that inspire others, and show positivity and creativity.

Some suggestions for the award:
1) Put the logo within your blog or on your post
2) Pass the award onto 10 fellow bloggers
3) Link the nominees within your post
4) Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5) Share the love and link to the person whom you received this award from.

Therefore, I would like to pass this award on to some favorite blogs of mine.  I hope you will take some time to visit these wonderful fellow bloggers, and inspiring women!

Lynnette, at Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground

Jeanette, at Threads of Faithfulness

Abbie, at Hope and a Future

Brittany, at Naturally Estes

Barbie, at My Freshly Brewed Life

Beautiful Faces

"Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art and... 

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
Oh, and God's not through, no
In fact, He's just getting started and… 

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God"   

Steven Curtis Chapman

Lean Not

I am finding that all too often in my life I am questioning my circumstances.  Questioning my choices.  Questioning my life.  Asking the all too familiar, "God, why me?"  Begging for guidance.  Desperately wanting answers and a clear picture of the road ahead. 

But instead of answers and a clear picture, everything is a blur, and no matter how much I try to comprehend or attempt to cling to logic, things stay fuzzy.

Sometimes, I just can't figure out what road God is taking us down, and sometimes, even when I get answers, they are not the answers I want.  The thing is, God is not necessarily guiding me through life based on my wants, or my desires.  And He is certainly not always showing me what lies ahead anytime I want a sneak peak.  In fact, there may be things that I experience in this life that I never understand this side of heaven.  

Slowly but surely, God is teaching me about this thing called trust.  Trusting in Him and His plan, rather than searching and planning on my own.  Proverbs 3 states:

    "Trust in the LORD with all your heart
         And lean not on your own understanding.
    In all your ways acknowledge Him,
         And He will make your paths straight." v. 5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,"  meaning trusting for His provision, His guidance, His peace, etc.  We must trust, in complete submission, in all things.  This means actually living out that trust day by day.  And part of living out that trust means NOT leaning on my own understanding.  Not leaning on my own selfish desires, or sinful nature, or inadequate knowledge of the situation.  

 

This is where the whole trust thing becomes difficult for me.  I am a very analytical person.  I have to analyze from every angle, ask every question, and then come to the most logical conclusion.  This is the exact opposite of what God wants from me, however.  He does not want me to try to sort things out on my own, apply some man-made logic, or see things as the world may see them.  No, He wants me to trust in Him and His plan, and trust that He has everything under control.  Looking to my own wisdom will only lead to failure.  Matthew Henry, in his Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible, states that "those who know themselves cannot but find their own understanding to be a broken reed, which, if they lean to, will certainly fail them.  In all our conduct we must be diffident [lacking] of our own judgment, and confident of God's wisdom, power and goodness."  

 

Not only that, but in all our ways, we must acknowledge Him.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  When the way seems easy and wonderful and blessed, we must acknowledge Him with thanksgiving, but when the way seems difficult and uncomfortable, and not at all what we had envisioned for our life, we must acknowledge Him with submission. 

 

And then?  If we trust in the Lord rather than our own understanding, and acknowledge God in all of life's ups and downs, what then?

 

"He will make your paths straight."  Whether the road ahead is clear or blurry, smooth or bumpy, winding or uncertain, the Lord will make our path straight. 

 

 

What a blessing and tremendous promise!  God will guide the path of my life, and I don't have to figure things out on my own!  I don't have to understand every detail or see the road that lies ahead.  God has a good and perfect plan for me.  So lean not, friends, on your own understanding, but put your trust in our gracious Lord and Savior.          

"Not Me!" Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.  GOOD TIMES! :)

This week, I did not spend entirely too much of my time blog hopping during the Ultimate Blog Party.  No, I have too many important things to do to waste such a huge amount of my time on the internet.  :) (But if I did, I definitely made tons of new friends AND won an Amazon.com giftcard, making it totally worth my time!!)

And this week I definitely did not lose a ridiculous amount of sleep because I was up all night anxious about going back to work (substitute teaching) for the first time since my son was born.  No, I am not so uptight a mom that I would be worried about being gone for just one day.  And I would definitely not be concerned about dad spending the whole day taking care of the kids by himself, because he is a perfectly capable and loving dad!  So of course I would never be worried that everyone would get fed, naps and medicine at the right times.  No, not me!  But if I did stay up all night, thinking of all the things that needed to get done in my absence, I definitely would not finally get up out of bed at the crack of dawn and cancel the job I had accepted.  No, that would be rude and irresponsible.  I would never do such a thing, and then quietly crawl back in bed for two more hours of sleep.  Especially considering I was a teacher, once upon a time, and would have hated to have a substitute cancel on me.  (Ok, truth be told, I did not think twice about what was going on in my classroom in my absence.  I was just happy to be getting a break! I did not have the best teaching job, but that is a whole other story...)    

So what have YOU not been doing this week??    

Pictures of My Sweet Girl...

...because my husband has been begging. 

I took these pictures one morning while getting the kids up and ready for the day, and my husband thinks she looks so much older, he has been dying for me to share them with you.  So, here you go.  You're welcome!

What do you think?  Does she look older in these pictures?  Or does she still look like my baby?

Ultimate Blog Party 2010!

This week, 5 Minutes for Mom is hosting a Blog Party!  I know I'm waaaaaaay late in participating considering it ends tomorrow, but better late than never, right?  Thousands of people are participating, and I encourage you to check out all the blogs here, and make some new friends! :)

They also have some really cool prizes to give away, which I would love to win!! My top picks?

1.  Target, Amazon.com, or Restaurant.com giftcard like the one from Thrifty Jinxy

OR

2.  Any of the beautiful art or photography, such as the Canvas Art from October Belle Designs

OR

3.  Any of the preschool toys, books or curriculum, such as The Letter of the Week from Confessions of a Homeschooler

Want to see all the prizes? Just go here!

Happy blogging!

Conversations with a 15 month old

Okay, so I do not actually have conversations, per se, considering my daughter doesn't really use words yet.  But she understands A LOT, and we have some pretty hilarious interactions throughout the day.  For example, the other day we were both sitting on the floor together, and she was playing and "reading" her books. 

Suddenly, she got up and started walking toward me with one of her books.  I thought, "Oh, how sweet.  She wants to read with me!"

Me:  "Hi sweetheart! You want to sit in my lap and read with me?"

Baby Girl: Shakes her head no, and turns to walk away into the kitchen.

Me:  "What? Aw, why not??"

Baby Girl:  Shrugs shoulders and continues to walk away from me.

Um, excuse me, do I have a 15 month old, or a 15 year old??  Ha!!

Oh well.  I still LOVE that sweet, beautiful face!!

5 Months

My, How Plans Change

I'm just going to say it.  I'm a planner.  I like to have everything figured out, mapped out and planned out.  I like to be in control.  Like to know what's going to happen, and when.  And I don't like change.  Well, you get the idea.  But it seems like no matter what plans I plan for myself, as good as they may seem to me, God has other plans.  I was not planning on living in Texas.  Ever.  But here we are.  I was not planning on getting pregnant until I was ready, in my time, but I got pregnant with my daughter after only 11 months of marriage.  Then, I was not planning on having another child for quite some time, but obviously God had other plans.  And I certainly was not planning on going into preterm labor and watching my son spend his first three months of life in a hospital NICU.  No, those were not my plans at all.  But I love it here in Texas, am absolutely CRAZY about my children, and grew closer to God during the most difficult three months of my life thus far.

And although I fully trust in God's plan, and would quite prefer it to my own, I do not always like it when I'm in the moment.  I don't always like not being able to see the end result.  I don't always like not knowing the purpose behind it, or not being able to see the big picture. 

So sometimes, the only thing I can rely on and rest in is the fact that God knows best, is in control, and has a good and righteous plan for my life.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."  Romans 8:28 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

"Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,"  Ephesians 1:11 

There have been so many things in my life recently that I did not plan, or honestly, could have even imagined.  Sometimes, I have been able to embrace God's plan courageously, and other times I have cried out in fear and anger.  But always, I come back to the truth of scripture and meditate on God's word.  I know that whatever God calls us to do, or whatever circumstances He brings about in our life, ultimately, it will bring Him glory.  I may not understand all the "why's" or all the "how's" or even like the road that God is taking us down at times.  But in the end, He will be glorified, and that's all that matters.  And I choose to rest in His truth, and His plan.

So Big!

I am

getting SO

BIG!!

What if I Had Given Everything: Part II

 As I've been thinking and praying about what it means to give everything for Christ, I feel like the best place to start is in the Church.  God has a clear design for His people and His church, and I feel like too frequently, we completely lose sight of what that design is.  And so, I have begun to read through the book of Acts and am trying to study the early church.  Unfortunately, what I see is that the church is failing in one of it's most important commands: to love one another with a sacrificial love. 

And believe me, I am referring to myself first and foremost!  It seems like so often I find myself caught up in the busyness of life.  I find myself completely consumed with myself and my own little world.  I spend day after day taking care of babies, cleaning the house, cooking dinner, blogging, taking pictures, planting flowers, reading magazines, catching up on my favorite shows, etc.  Suddenly, a month has gone by and I have not spent any time at all investing in the lives of others.  It becomes so easy to only be concerned with myself.  My children.  My family.

Is this really what God has planned for me as a believer?  Yes, my family is important.  And yes, my husband and children come before a lot of other things.  But what about my brothers and sisters in Christ?  Are we to merely go about our lives, completely independent of one another, only to come together for worship on Sunday mornings?  Then are we to smile happily at one another and pretend like everything is ok?  Like we have it all together?  Are the worries and struggles and fears of others simply not my concern?

Of course not!  There are so many places in scripture that speak to how we are to treat each other, and how we are to live our lives, but what I am focusing on right now is Acts chapter 2. 

⁴⁴ "And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. ⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. ⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity ⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."

These believers were so overjoyed and in awe of what God had done, that they sacrificed whatever they needed to in order to help each other.  They shared everything they had with whoever needed it.  They worshiped together every day, and shared meals together, "all the while, praising God."  They put their own selfishness and desires aside and did everything for the glory of God!  And what was the result?  "Each day, the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."  People were being saved!

I hate to think that church has simply become the "thing to do" on Sunday mornings.  And I really hate to think that there are lost and dying people out there in desperate need of the truth, in need of a loving, sacrificing church family, only to find one big charade week after week.  I have seen the devastating affect this can have on people, and I do NOT want to be the cause of anyone else giving up on what God's people could be, if we would only give up our selfish ways, and live out the truths of scripture.   

²² "throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."   Ephesians 4:22-24