"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 most certainly did not allow, nay, encourage, my daughter to walk around in my high-heeled shoes. 

No, she is definitely too young for such behavior, so I would never help her when she asked to put them on, and then crack up as she paraded around the kitchen.  Nope, not me!

And of course after witnessing her silliness and dancing, I would promptly take the shoes away, NOT photograph her...

Not me!

So, what have you NOT been doing this week??

One Handsome Boy

Is he one handsome boy, or what??!

I'm an Aunt!

That's right, I am now an aunt!  This announcement is a little belated, but I am still just as excited and wanted to share!!  My sister-in-law gave birth to a beautiful, bouncing baby boy on Saturday, August 14, at 10:02 pm.   

Amazingly, (well, amazingly to me!) they waited the entire 9 months to find out the gender of the baby, and so I was overwhelmed with anticipation (as I'm sure they were as well, ha!)!  So now he's here, and we finally know that he is a handsome, perfect little boy.  Not only is he my babies' very first cousin, but now, my son isn't the only boy!  When he's older, I'm sure he will appreciate that, haha! :) 

Doesn't he have the most perfectly shaped head!?  I'm so SO happy and excited for them, and I CANNOT WAIT to meet the newest addition to the family!!! :)

Congratulations, we love you!!!!

"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 was definitely NOT incredibly lazy, due to a ridiculous lack of sleep.  No, I always stay on top of the housework, especially when we have company coming to visit!  No, I never put off piles and piles of laundry, or scrubbing the shower and toilet in order to snuggle up on the couch to watch Friends and eat a brownie instead.  Not me!

And in my lazy state, my children and I would never spend an entire day in our pajamas, not a single bath or shower to be had.  No, we always get up, bright eyed and bushy tailed, and promptly get ourselves fresh and clean and ready to tackle the day!

And of course, what kind of example would I be if I got up and threw on the same shirt I wore the night before, because I decided to load myself and the kids in the car and drive to Target just to get Starbucks.  No, I am never that desperate for a cup of coffee, because I am so exhausted I am not even sure I have enough energy to sit on the couch.  No, not this mama!

So, what have YOU not been doing this week?? :)

This is So Cool!

Ok.  I know I am WAY behind the times, because this is nothing new, but I just really looked into it for the first time today and I am SO EXCITED!!

It's called Ebates.  It's a website that gives you CASH BACK for shopping online.  I have to be honest, I tend to look past things like this because it sounds like a scam, or too good to be true, or too much work.  But it is NONE of those things!  Basically, if you are going to shop online at your favorite store anyway, simply go to Ebates first, and then click on the store link from there (um Target!), and Ebates credits your account with a percentage of your purchase back!

The reason?  “Online merchants pay a commission to websites when they send them buyers, and Ebates simply passes this commission back to you! [They] pay shoppers millions of dollars every year.”  I am starting to earn today, so that we can pay off my son's medical bills!! Woo Hoo!!!  I have already earned $5.00!  :)  PLUS, they offer exclusive online coupons to help save you even more money! 

Setting up an account is so easy.  All you need to do is click right here, enter your e-mail and a password and voila!  You are on your way to saving money and earning cash back!! So simple!

Want even more of an incentive?  How about earning a brand new Apple iPad??  That's right, with the tell-a-friend program, you can earn even more cash or cool prizes like an iPad, just for telling your friends how to save money! There is no limit, so if you have a facebook page, twitter, or blog of your own, sign up for an account here, and then spread the word just like I am!  Refer 50 people to Ebates, and you've earned yourself and iPad my friend!

So if you already shop, use Ebates to get some of that money back to pay off debt, buy a Starbucks coffee, start a savings fund for the kiddos, or anything at all!  :)

Happy shopping (and saving!!)

To The Choir

Dear FBC Choir,

My husband and I went through a lot, both in the church as well as in our personal lives, while serving at FBCJ.  But the one constant over the past two years has been an amazingly supportive and loving choir.  I can't tell you all how much I have enjoyed singing and serving alongside each one of you.  And you have no idea how much I especially appreciate all the love and support you showed my husband as he served as music minister.

I have seen a lot of pettiness and bickering in churches due to differences in musical preference, and I have seen music ministers treated absolutely horribly.  Coming to this church, I really had no idea what to expect, or how the choir would treat my husband.  But I couldn't have asked for a better, more encouraging group of people.  You never failed to follow my husband's lead and direction, and even when there was some grumbling about a particular song, you always sang cheerfully anyway.  :)

Often times, the best part of my week (and I think my husband's as well!) was the hour and a half I spent at choir practice.  I had so much fun, and I think you all did too!  I really can't tell you how much I have enjoyed worshiping together, and what your friendships (as well as all the musicians!!) have meant to both of us.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.  You will continue to be in our prayers, as will the future of the church.  We will miss you terribly, and hope you will keep in touch!!

Love and God Bless,

A Girl and Her Daddy...and Her Phone

And so it begins.

She already "talks" on the phone all day long.

And when you ask who she's talking to?

She either responds with "Daddy," (she is daddy's girl!) or "Emma," my friend's daughter. 

It's really very, very cute!

9 Months!

I don't know if it's as hard for you to believe as it is for me, but my baby boy is nine months old today!

9 Months.  


That's 39 weeks.

Or 273 days.  

And 97 of those days were spent in the hospital.  


It's so hard for me to believe that he has now been home for twice as long as he was in the hospital.  In the midst of it, time moved in slow motion.  But now?  It already seems like such a long time ago.  Especially since he is doing so well, and is such a happy, healthy baby now.

But there are still plenty of reminders of his early and difficult start in life.  He is still slightly behind developmentally.  He can roll all over the place, sit up, and he "talks" and coos all the time.  But his fine motor skills are behind, and he is not crawling or pulling himself up yet. 

And he still has oral motor difficulties, so he is not eating solid foods yet.  But an occupational therapist comes to see him, and we do various exercises to help build up his mouth muscles and to help him learn what to do with his tongue so that he knows how to swallow the food.  He is already doing much better.  He used to clamp his mouth shut, and anything that did get in his mouth would gag him.  But now he will at least take some, he just has trouble swallowing it.  Slowly but surely we're getting there!   

And of course, we are reminded daily of his prematurity when we have to give him his medicine.  He is still on three different blood pressure medications.  But he seems to be growing into his blood pressure (as he gets bigger, his numbers are more proportionate to his size), so we are hopeful to begin to wean him off the medicine very soon.  :)

But we are also reminded daily of how very amazingly well he is doing, and how INCREDIBLY blessed we are because of that.  I try to never forget what could have been during those long three months, or the fact that God could have taken him from us, but did not.  And for that, I will be eternally thankful.

I don't know if this is helpful, but I took a picture of him the other day next to a measuring tape which measured 15 inches (his size at birth).  Unfortunately, he was not completely stretched out, so you can't tell exactly how much he's grown, but you get an idea.

 

He's getting so big and so strong!  Happy nine months, sweet boy!

"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! :)

I haven't participated in "Not Me!" Monday in a while, so I thought I was due to fess up to some things!   Not that I ever do anything silly, or inappropriate, because I totally have it all together, like I mentioned here, but I came up with a few things to share. ;)

Because I am always prepared and have everything I need at all times, I definitely show up to my doctor's appointments with everything ready to go.  So of course I would never drive all the way to the doctor (with my son), leaving my medication for my shot at home.  And I would never get to the appointment, get checked in, proceed to wait patiently in the waiting room, all the while not having my medication (which is half the reason I am there in the first place).  No, it would never take me thirty minutes to realize I am not even prepared for my appointment that I have been waiting so patiently for.

So then, I would never have to admit to the nurse that I have to leave, drive home, retrieve said medicine, and then drive back, all the while trying to keep my son happy and calm.  And of course, I would never let this happen just one hour before the office is closing.  So I would never have to rush home and rush back (with almost no gas left in my car) and make sure I get back in time to have my appointment, get my shot, AND try to keep my baby from fussing.  No, I would never be so scatter-brained as to turn a simple, quick appointment into a three and a half hour affair! :)     

And of course, because I am always prepared, I always have meals planned ahead of time if we are going to be out of the house.  So when we packed up for church last night, I certainly did not neglect to pack something for my daughter to eat for dinner.  Knowing we would not be home until late, there's no way I would be so forgetful!  And so I would NEVER resort to feeding her cookies to hold her over until we could get home and enjoy some "real" food, because I make sure my children eat nothing but healthy, well-balanced meals at all times.

So what do you say?  What have you NOT been doing this week? :)

Better Together

I'm just going to be honest.  It is incredibly difficult to catch my babies together, in the same picture.  Actually, it's incredibly difficult to catch my daughter at all,  because she tends to be very very active.  But over the last week, I have gotten a couple pictures of them together. 

Really the only time this is possible is when they first get up in the morning and they're sitting watching cartoons, or when they first get up from a nap.  Either way, they're still a little groggy and willing to sit still for longer stretches of time (about 2-3 minutes).  

Playing together:

And of course, watching cartoons:

So, how long do you think it will be before people mistake them for twins?? :)

Only Dead Fish Go With the Flow

The news was on in the background the other day, and the news anchor was interviewing Sarah Palin.  I was not really paying attention, but I heard him ask about a reporter who has moved in next door to them, and apparently cares WAY too much about how Ms. Palin and her family spend their time.  Anyway, he asked if they have had to alter their lifestyle at all because of him, or if they just "go with the flow."  Her response?

Only dead fish just go with the flow. 

I normally do not like silly cliches or catchy phrases (at all), but I have to say, this saying (which is apparently an Alaskan thing) really resonated with me.  I began to think about just how many ways this applies to Christians, especially in America.  Of course, in life, things happen, and we should try to make the best of every situation.  But that's not the "go with the flow" that I'm going to discuss here.

First of all, Christians, by the mere fact that we have been set apart from the world by God, cannot go with the flow of the world.  

"But you are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."  1 Peter 2:9

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."  Jeremiah 1:5

As Christians, we are called by God to be His people.  That means we are to be Holy, just as Christ is Holy, and that we cannot simply go with the flow of the rest of the world.  We should not be living our lives in the same way as the ungodly.  If someone were to look at your life, your priorities, the choices you make and the way you spend your time, would they see any difference at all from the life of your neighbor who does not profess Christ as Lord?  What about the words that come out of your mouth, or the way that you spend your money?  Do you talk like the world?  Do you covet material possessions?

Living a holy, godly life is not an easy thing to do.  Especially in America, where there are so many expectations of wealth and success and fame.  But who are we living our lives for?  For some meaningless, temporal success?  Or for the All Mighty, Righteous Creator of all?

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  Romans 12:2

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."  Romans 8:29

Although I fail daily, this is what I strive for.  To live a life that is pleasing to God.  Regardless of what my peers think, or what my family thinks, or what my neighbors think.  It is most definitely not an easy thing to do, but when you stand before the throne of Christ and have to give an account of your life, what are you going to say?  What will you have to show for your time on this earth?  A nice house and fancy car?  Or a life that was full of the work of the Lord?  A life full of prayer, priorities that were in line with God's priorities, and that stood firm in the truth of scripture, unashamedly?   

Another way that this saying is applicable is for the church as a whole.  Churches tend to do things a lot of different ways.  Different styles, different music, different orders of service.  Pastors and leaders are constantly trying to find the "next best thing" to make church more appealing and exciting.  So when a church makes a decision about how to spend it's money, or where to hold church, or what kind of service to have, or what the goal of the church should be, how can you know if it is the right decision?  That a particular decision is in line with the will of God?   

Well, the answer is simple.  The only absolute authority is the Word of God.  Therefore, if something that the church is doing, or something that people in the church are teaching contradicts scripture, then it is the wrong decision, or a wrong teaching.  So as believers sitting in the pews, what are we to do?  Just go with the flow because the leaders "know best"?  Just accept the authority of church elders simply because they hold a particular position in the church?  Of course not!

Only dead fish just go with the flow.

If a church is acting in a way that is contrary to scripture, the people of God are obligated to stand up and stand firm behind what they know to be the truth.  If a pastor or elder is teaching something that goes against God's word, believers have to hold that person accountable and let them know of the contradiction.

Although it is unfortunate to think that false teachings and misguided direction occur in the church today, this is nothing new.  Paul gives warnings to the early church again and again.  Even Christ Himself warned against false teachings:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them."  Matthew 7:15-20

Then, in the 1800s, Charles Spurgeon spoke frequently of the effect of false teachings, and the apathy of the people sitting in the pews:  "Everywhere there is apathy.  Nobody cares whether that which is preached is true or false.  A sermon is a sermon whatever the subject; only, the shorter the better."

Unfortunately, this sounds all too much like it could have been spoken of our church today.  Jesus Christ said that He would build His church, and it is my prayer that the people of God would remember that and stop trying to rely on comfortable teachings that sound appealing, fancy light shows, cool, hip music, or big, expensive buildings to try and grow the church.  And I pray that we would remember that Christ alone is the head of the church, and not any one man or group of men.  

As Christians, we are obligated to stand behind the truth of scripture, whatever the cost, and absolutely refuse to just go with the flow.  We are not dead fish; we are made alive in Christ!  And we should be willing and excited to stand up for what is right and what we know to be the truth.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I want to share some things that I am incredibly thankful for.  Of course this list is not all-encompassing, just some things I am particularly thankful for today:  :)

1.  A beautiful, bright shining sun (even though it is stinkin hot!)

2.  An amazing husband who helps with the kids even though he has been working all day and then had a ridiculous commute.

3.  Our friendly (FREE) public library, with a fun-filled children's section.

4.  Starbucks coffee (that's for you, Brittany!)

5.  Friends who look out for me even though they are not here with me.

6.  Casting Crowns.

7.  My beautiful daughter, who insists on feeding herself. 

8.  A good natured, easy going cat who is gentle with and "plays" with my babies.

9.  My handsome son who is learning to entertain himself, but who loves to be social and play with other people (especially his sister).

10.  The amazing freedom and forgiveness that I have through Jesus Christ.  I could not make it through the day without Him!

What are YOU thankful for today??

Are You Ready For This?

As difficult as it is, my family and I are once again facing a time of transition.  While we love our church and so very many people in our congregation, the time has come for us to move on.  This is not a decision that has been made lightly, nor is it one that was made in anger, in protest, or with selfish motives.  It is simply what is best for our family, and what is best for our church, at this time.

Of course it is difficult to say goodbye, something this church has had to do a lot here lately, unfortunately, and so there are a lot of people who are sad that we are going.  There are lots of questions, mostly to the effect of, why now, and where will you go from here?  But one question caught me a little off guard.  An incredibly sweet and compassionate woman in our congregation looked at me and said, "Are you ready for this?" 

Hmm.  Am I ready for the huge change that's coming?  Is it even possible to be ready when you don't completely know what lies ahead?  I'll be honest, I didn't really know how to answer.  Yes, I am confident that this is the right decision, and yes, I can explain why we need to leave.  But am I ready?

Was I ready to leave everything I had ever known to pick up and move to this great state of Texas, which was completely devoid of anything or anyone familiar?  Absolutely not. 

Was I ready to be pregnant with our first child, a mere 11 months after my husband and I were married?  Definitely not. 

Was I ready to give birth at only 28 weeks, and subsequently face three months of driving back and forth to the hospital to visit my son, after what had seemed like a perfectly normal and healthy pregnancy?  Of course not!

And after everything we went through with my son, all the heartache and struggles and questions, was I ready to be pregnant yet again?  Not even close.

But I would not change a single one of those decisions or circumstances.  God has never failed to carry us through any trial we have faced.  And God has never failed to provide for every single need, and every single child.  Are we facing a little uncertainty?  Yes.  But we are fully trusting in the Lord's direction and excited about what the future holds.  We are excited to take a break from ministry, and we are excited to have the opportunity to find a church together, and mostly we are excited to be able to worship together.  I think this will be a great time to pray together and seek the Lord's guidance about where He would have us next.  We are in no hurry.  We are settled here, have a baby to keep inside and hopefully give birth to in late November (or early December), and a son who is still seeing several doctors here.

And so, here we go.  Are we ready for this?  Probably not.  But we're jumping in head first nonetheless!  And of course, we definitely covet your prayers during our time of uncertainty and transition.  :)