FINALLY!

Bright and early at 5:25 Tuesday morning, the Lord blessed us with a beautiful little boy!

Baby Daniel David

7lb 3oz

Perfect

Amazing

God blessed me with a very quick labor and delivery. I'm not sure if things could have gone more smoothly (although I wouldn't have minded some pain relief!). Daniel came out as healthy as could be, and was able to lay on my chest right away. He's the cutest thing I've ever seen, and am so proud to be his mom. My husband was able to announce the sex to me, and he did so with great joy. He was the one to name this little one, his first born son, what a blessing that was to wait in anticipation to hear the name that my husband had chosen. It's been an undescribable blessing to be parents of this little man that we created together.

Will post some pics soon. Have wanted to update you all many times in the last week, but have been finding it hard getting into the routine of being a new mom again. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Be blessed, God is good.

Missing a former life...and ready for my new one

I could squat...

I could lean and bend...

I had nice pretty clothes to wear that fit....

I could sit cross legged....

I could dance....

I could paint my toe nails...

I could fit behind my father-in-laws air hockey table, along with other nooks and crannies....

As you can tell, I'm very ready to be done with what has been a very physically trying pregnancy. I'm ready to claim my body back as my own, and stop housing a roomate in a house that is clearly no longer big enough for the two of us. I'm starting to think that maybe I'm just not one of those women who love the being pregnant part of motherhood. I think I enjoy my physical freedom too much. Now that my sister is on the preggy boat, she's dropped off all the clothes that I lent her when I grew out of them. I look through the box and marvel at all these little trendy pants that I once wore. I'm getting very excited to look like me again, and do all that I was once able to do. With the light shinning brightly at the end of my tunnel, I will walk with my head up for these last few days, looking forward to all the blessings of bringing a new life into the world and meeting him or her for the first time. So until after the hatching of my little egg, I bid you farewell. Blessings!

finally a few pics!

Pre-living room...

My hubby's creation....

Pre-daughter's room...

My hubby's creation...

Many more to come....

My little one is in school today. Her and I packed up her lunch together last night. Chicken sandwich, baby carrots, granola bar, juice and bread sticks and cheese. We put it in a brown paper bag and she wrote her name on it. So cute. We went grocery shopping last night, and I bought her a bunch of little treats that I wouldn't normally allow her to have, like Pop Tarts and candy. My hubby told my daughter to soak it up while she could, because mommy needed to fill a void in herself by buying her all these treats. Sadly it's true, it does make me feel a little better while she's at school, at least she had her Pop Tart, now I can get on with my day.

Still feel like I'm getting bigger everyday, even though I know I'm not. But I've been feeling quite better emotionally and mentally. It's amazing what knowing the end is near will do for a person. Seeing that bright and shining light at the end of my tunnel is quickly getting me through the days. I'm getting so excited to have this baby. I'm fantisizing about what it will be like, about what kind of mom I'll be, about what kind of daddy my husband will be... It's all very exciting for all of us. I came home to a message on my machine last night from my mother in law. She wanted us to know that my husband's Nana is coming into town from B.C one weekend in October to see our new baby, and to make sure to keep that weekend open. It made me smile from ear to ear, and made me feel real special. When I stop to think about it, it's not very surprising that the great grandma would want to come and meet her first blood great grand child, I've just never experienced this side of having a baby before. With my daughter, I didn't have any inlaws, and since everything was very up in the air as to whether or not she was coming or going, staying or leaving, there weren't a lot of visitors. I feel very blessed to experience becoming a parent as God intended. Many people must take these little things for granted, but I've been feeling so grateful for it all. My mother in law mentioned that she wasn't going to be going to the lake anymore until the baby was born. I felt so loved.... Like, duh, her son is having a baby, of course she's not going anywhere, but to me, I don't know, it's just so nice to know that there's all this family gathered around this new little one, ready to love it as soon as it comes. I love how God will bless us when we walk in obedience. It's unfortunate that so often we choose to walk in disobedience, and end up being robbed of so much because of it. And half the time we don't even know what we're missing, so we just carry on the same path, not knowing there is so much more, if we would just submit to Him. I'm so glad to have experienced all that I have, and that God brought me through, now I know how special this all is...

Well, that's about as much of an update as I can give you. I'm still cut off from the outside world of human beings. Anyone reading this is about as much contact as I have with the human race these days. But I'm enjoying the restful period, as I know it will all come crashing down once baby comes. For now just being with my daughter and hubby is enough to keep me going. Of course my neighborhood family fits in there somewhere as well, which has been such a blessing. You don't feel any more comfortable than you do with your own family. It's been nice having them around in this phase of anti socialism, I can always hang out with them and not feel like I have to do anything but just be. They've been very helpful too, my mom came over today and swept my kitchen and door way. Ah, to be a block away from your mommy.

~Blessings~

how well do you know me?

Had to get in on this one....

Check it out!

http://www.quizyourfriends.com/quizpage.php?quizname=060909221305-112914

another mission field

"Let the little children come unto me...."

-Jesus-

Today I sent my little on off for her first day of school. I shed a few tears as I watched the car drive away, but deep in my spirit I could hear the voice of God speaking peace and reassurance that she is in His hands, not mine.
It's been an amazing journey, releasing my daughter into God's hands, a journey that is far from over. Everyday is another day where I have to choose to let her go. I had many plans for my daughter, that have been burned up as an offering for the Lord. I had determined that it was God's plan, because I knew He wanted what was best for her, and I thought I had found out what that was. But God has been showing me more and more that the destiny of my child is far greater than I could see. By holding her back from the things I thought would harm her, I was holding her back from all that God wanted to do in her life, to raise her up as a leader and an evangelist for the King.
I'm still figuring all this out. It's so hard to be a parent in this day and age, because everyone seems to have the right answer, and if you're not falling under that answer or the new fad everyone seems to be following, you're doing it wrong. Let me reassure you that your child has a special destiny, one that has been determined by the Lord, not you, and not by all the opinions of others, thinking they know what's best. The Lord has singled out your child for something very special. He desires to see His glory shine in your childs life, and if you follow His lead, and raise them up in the way they should go, He will be glorified. He know's their name, the hairs on their heads are numbered, He will carry out His good works into completion, so that they will not be lacking anything.
Parents, be encouraged today, for God is raising up a generation of leaders, teachers, encouragers, prayer warriors, evangelists and prophets. These are your kids.

You know that very distinct difference between being the 'bride' and being a wife? I can remember everyone always asking me durring the months and weeks before our wedding, "So, how's 'the bride' feeling? How's 'the bride' holding up?" Seemed that after we got married I never heard any "How's the wife?" I guess the commotion at that point was just, over. So here I am, as pregnant as this little body is ever going to get, tired, heavy, irratated, emotional, anti-social, and every time I see the whites of anyone's eyes....."How's the preggy feeling?" Sigh, I'm ready for the comotion to be over, and to enter into the next stage, where no one really asks questions anymore, where people kind of just leave you alone. I want to enter mommy-hood.
I've hit this place where I just want to be within the four walls of my house and in the company of my husband. I dread the thought of being around a bunch of people, hearing the same old twenty questions that I don't want to answer anymore. Yes, I'm still pregnant. Yes, I'm getting very large. Yes, my back still bothers me. Yes, I'm very uncomfortable. No, I don't sleep very well. No, my hormone levels and emotions are not stable. No, I don't feel completely prepared for the coming of this baby but YES! I want it out.
Ahhhh, in the end, I just want to meet this little one. I want this little one to be comfortable in the new room my husband and I have created for it's arrival. I want to know if God blessed my little girl with a sister or a brother. I want to experience mommy-hood in the way God intended it within the holy grounds of marriage.
It's been difficult for me to see past the physical pains this pregnancy has come with. I've had times of feeling very selfish and less than, when I hear others who are pregnant count every moment as a blessing and a miracle. I feel jealous when I hear of others who feel great from day one to delivery day, and wonder why I was chosen to walk this road instead of that one. I know on the other side, there is a glorious road awaiting me, and anything that may have been taken from me now, will be given back tenfold, as my heavenly father has promised.
For now, my little body still endures the hardships of creating and bearing life inside it, and still excitingly awaits the day that my little one will bless me and my family with it's presence. Until then......the love of my Heavenly Father, the reassurance of my husband, the gentleness of my daughter, naps, a whole lot of kleenex and Tums..........it's all I need.

2 Baby updates

My baby at about 18 to 20 inches and 5 to 6 pounds, is looking plump and less wrinkly now as fat deposits fill out it's adorable form. Creases have formed around the baby's wrists and neck, and the dimples I'll soon be kissing have started to appear on the elbows and knees. With the uterine home now increasingly cramped, baby has little room for gymnastics, so I feel less vigorous kicking and more twisting and wiggling. Just like a newborn, my baby has regular periods of active sleep, deep sleep, active wakefulness and quiet wakefulness. Brain growth continues at a fantastic clip. Baby's lungs are approaching full maturity.

Am looking more and more forward to no longer being 'pregnant', and becoming a 'mommy' to this little one my husband and I have been blessed to create together. God continues to prepare me with the faith and trust that I will need to mother this child. The more I seek His perfect grace, the more I know my husband and I will be great parents. His faithfulness is enough to sustain my hopes and dreams, and His peace is enough to cover my fears and doubts.

A big congratulations to my daughter's dad and step-mom, who just had their new baby girl last night! My little girl is officially a big sister. If you feel lead, please keep them in your prayers. May God's blessing be on this new family, and may His love be revealed and received.

~Peace~

the house is still here, and I'm still in it

Am still looking around wondering how all my stuff found it's way into this house. I go to the bathroom and think, yep, that's my bath mat, that's my shower curtain, but who's bathroom is this? Yep that's my bed, my sheets, my dresser, and look, there's my clothes in that there closet, but who the hecks room is this? It's obviously still sinking in, that this is MY house. I'm not borrowing it, I'm not viewing it or testing it out, I'm not even renting it, it's mine. And there will be no strange person popping in at any time, asking us to please exit the premises, and give them back their house.
And it feels very weird, just knowing that my parents are around the corner, and my sister is down the street. They were both over today, for our first, neighborly visit. What a blessing it's going to bring to me and my family having them so close. I'm looking forward to all that God has in store.

First night

I'm about to spend my first night in my new house.
The move went so smoothly, and didn't take long at all. An hour to load up the truck, and only 45 minutes to unload. We were very blessed to have good help this morning, and they were all done before noon. Then the big pregnant and sore wife got to have a nice hour long nap, while my hubby worked hard at unpacking bits and pieces of our room, our bathroom, and the basement. Then through out the rest of the day and evening, we have had family members coming and going helping out with anything that was left. Thank you so much guys! My hubby cut and watered the front and back lawn already, as well and pulled all the weeds in the sidewalk, washed the whole outside of the house and pruned the heck out of the big pine tree in the front yard, not to mention all that he's been doing inside. He's been going hard, non-stop since 7 am this morning. I tried napping with his this afternoon but he wouldn't be quiet. He kept babbling on about all that he wants to do next. So I told him he might as well just get up and do it all, since he sure as heck wasn't capable of napping, or shutting up so that I could! I sure hope he sleeps tonight! Last night he was so excited that he didn't sleep at all. He kept poking me asking if I was awake. When the alarm went off at 6:50 I opened my eyes to see him grinning from ear to ear, so excited to start the day. So cute, of course I was not quite so enthused myself. It's been so awesome to watch him take everything on and get so much done, and to still have his complete blessing to take it easy and rest. I love him so much! But I'm off to bed, hopefully my hubby can join me, but he's still going hard upstairs. Hehe, "upstairs".....so weird.
Blessings!

So thankful for my hubby.....

I've been inspired by my sis to broadcast how amazing my hubby is, so here I go....

As many of you know, I am 35 weeks pregnant, and we're moving in one more sleep into our first home. People keep telling me that I'd better be taking it easy, and that I shouldn't be working too hard with this move. It's such a good reminder everytime I hear this, of how hard my hubby has been working to make it all easy on me. He's set up an amazingly organized packing system, so that when I'm at home ready to unpack, I won't have to search through any boxes to find something. He hasn't allowed me to lift a finger in regards to packing anything. All I've had to do is supervise, and let him know what he can throw out and what to pack. Everything is basically done, and he's done it all by himself! (minus the day that my brother-in-law and sis came to help us out, thank you so much!!) He works day and night, and has still managed to pack up our whole apartment, and keep his pregnant wife feeling loved and secure, babied and pampered. By the grace of God he's proven himself to be the most amazing husband I could ever ask for. His qualities are something to be admired, his hard work something that I look up to. It has been such a blessing to walk this out with him, and to have his blessing to take it easy on the sidelines. I can remember the day that I let go of the control of this move, and gave it over to my hubby, since that day the peace of God that passes all understanding has been filling me. It has been that peace that has brought us to the day before our move. We pray that His peace continues to be in the center of our hearts, as we watch the real work begin!

~peace~

3 sleeps!

Three more sleeps until my family and I pick up and move into our own house. I'm so amazed that God has brought us to this place, where we can experience the blessing of this new adventure together. Our apartment is no longer resembling any sort of home anymore. Boxes are lined up against all the walls, my daughter's loft bed is all disassembled, and there's one face cloth in the linen closet. Slowly but surely everything is finding it's way into a compact space to make it's way to the new house. My hubby and I are getting very excited, and can't stop talking about all the neat things we want to do as soon as we arrive. We plan to paint right away, and I can't wait! Having grown up in rental properties all my life, I've never seen anything but a white wall. Let me tell you, 22 years of built up and unused painting energy is going to make quite the statement. Stay tuned, I'll take lots of before and after pics!
Be blessed as you are, God is good, He is faithful and He is our provider.

3 things

3 things that scare me:

1. Heights
2. My daughter being lost or stolen
3. My hubby almost everytime he enters a room (I get scared very easily)

3 people that make me laugh:

1. My husband and daughter when they play together
2. My hubby, My sister, her hubby, and my mom and dad, when we get into a goofy mood, and feed off making fun of eachother
3. Jerry Seinfeld

3 things I love:

1. My new house!
2. That this pregnancy is almost over
3. That fall is coming and the heat is leaving

3 things that I hate:

1. Seeing my little girl get treated with pure disrespect, and seeing her little feelings get hurt (yes, call me a mother hen)
2. Horror movies, and the lie that many believe that it's ok to glorify satan for 2 hours through a movie that pumps your sub-conscience full of horrible images
3. Being interupted and having to repeat myself

3 things I don't understand:

1. Why I still categorize sin
2. How people can be experts on pregnancy, pregnancy weight gain, and all the many changes your body goes through and why, when they haven't ever been pregnant themselves
3. Why I was one of the few in many women who have extreme pain in their SI joint during pregnancy (although God is still teaching me lots on this one, and I'm learning very slowly but surely)

3 things on my floor:

1. A bunch of library books and movies
2. A plush chair, and a little girl sitting in it
3. Various miscellaneous items that need to be organized and packed

3 things I am doing right now:

1. Blogging when I should be showering
2. Listening to a fan and Zaboomafoo in the backround
3. Thinking of all the fun things I get to do in my new house

3 things I want to do before I die:

1. See my children grow up to love and fear the Lord
2. Travel to all the wonderful places my husband wants to take me
3. Grow to love my husbands feet (not quite there yet)

3 things I can do:

1. Waste an entire morning on this stinkin blog
2. Make a water drop noise with my mouth
3. Play the guitar sing and write music for the Lord

3 things that describe my personality:

1. Introverted
2. Likes things in order
3. Am re-energized by just being quiet and still (something my daughter and hubby can not handle)

3 things I think you should listen to:

1. The convictions of the Holy Spirit
2. The authorities placed over you, your hubby, the law, the leaders in your church
3. Anyone who by the power and wisdom of the holy spirit is correcting you in love, and holding you accountable to the truth so that you can continue to walk in the freedom of Christ

3 things I don't think you should listen to:

1. Satan's lies, that say you're not worthy of God's unconditional love, that you have no purpose, or that the God in you is not big enough to overcome your latest trial
2. Someone who's so negative all the time, that you start walking away feeling drained and heavy, someone who can complain about all that's wrong in their life, but will not make any of the changes or sacrifices God asks them to
3. The fads of our society, that say it's cool to get tattooed and pierced, and that women should dress to draw sexual attention to their bodies

3 Favorite foods:

1. Saskatoon Asian stir-fry vegetables on rice and vietemese rolls dipped in fish sauce and spicy oil
2. Crisp meat burritos and mexi fries dipped in loads of taco time hot sauce mmmmm.....
3. Steak, brushetta, and crab and artichoke dip

3 beverages I drink regularly:

1. Coffee, usually decaf
2. Water
3. Chocolate milk (my new craving)

3 shows I watch:

1. CSI
2. Seinfeld
3. Canadian Idol (my favorite gal got booted off last night) :(

Many are my plans....

Thoughts for today...

"Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails"

Proverbs 19:21

Have I been consulting the Lord in my everyday plans? Do I wake up eager to find out what His heart is for my day? Am I seeking out His wisdom in His word moment by moment? Am I continuously asking Him for the answer when I find myself in a situation that needs a decision?

Or, am I quick to make decision based on what I want? Do I roll out of bed and grab my breakfast, my morning coffee, check my email, read some flyers and gab on the phone for a bit before I go to God in prayer and thanksgiving? Would I rather lay in bed reading a magazine, or doing a crossword puzzle than read the word?

Unfortunately my life generally speaks the latter, fortunately, the holy spirit has been faithful in convicting me in my selfish ways. I pray that today I'd be able to commune with God throughout the day, instead of only going to Him when chaos arises or doubt hits. When I'm shaken I want to stand firm in my relationship with my Father. I want these desires to be more than good intentions. And He is faithful, His grace is sufficient. He has the almighty power to change me on the inside.

Just like King David I cry out to You

create in me a clean heart

I've greived you again

I need your release

from patterns that keep me in sin

there's only one way I can finally break free

Change me on the inside

Change me on the inside

Change me on the inside

pics to enjoy

La La La La...

My parental figures

Star Gazing...

The turtle from The NeverEnding Story

My hubby and I at Taste of Saskatchewan

The 'children' playing King of the Hill

It's all fun and games until someone break his hip....Go Dad!

My quote for the day:

"Having a child doesn't make you any more of a parent than having a piano makes you a pianist"

It takes selfless sacrifice without resentment or condition to be a real mommy and daddy.

The heat is on

It seems that as soon as my core body temperature gets too hot, there's no turning back. I've tried everything, but I still get nauseous, headaches, and ask my poor hubby, reeeeally grumpy. Cold showers just weren't doing the trick anymore, so I've shifted to cold baths. Like sitting in a paddling pool before the sun has warmed up the water, aaahhhhh. I'm thinking this will be routine until the weather starts telling me otherwise. A low of only 18 overnight. Oh my goodness, the Lord be with me..... (and also with you) ;)

He is patient, and He is faithful

My husband was ready to make babies on our wedding night. I on the other hand, pumped my body full of Depo-Provera in fear of getting pregnant. The thought of starting a family did not appeal to me at all, so I made up my mind that we were not going to have kids for at least five years into our marriage. If God or my hubby had a problem with that, they would have to suck it up. Nin, had spoken.
So a year went by and I started to notice God chipping away at my heart, softening it to the idea. Reminding me that He would never give me anything I couldn't handle, reminding me that His way was far more glorious than walking my own way, and reminding me that walking the road of being un-wed and pregnant at 16 was not His desire for me, He had given me a new beginning, to experience it His way this time. So I got to thinking, and concluded that I would submit, if we bought a house first. I knew that this was in the very near future for us, so I figured, ok God, we'll compromise. Once again, Nin, had spoken.
So we started shopping for a house. This was a very exciting time for me, as buying a house was not even a thought that entered my mind, I never thought that we would be able to be in a house that soon. I had grown up in rental properties all my life, and it wasn't until 4 years ago that my parents bought their first house. The thought of actually moving forward in that direction baffled my mind, and I was quite excited to see what God had in store for us. Finally, just before Christmas, we found a house we loved. We walked away from it with a lot to talk and pray about. When we aproached God about it, He made His answer very clear. "Stop looking for a house." Huh? He was gracious enough to repeat Himself a couple of times, to make sure we really got it, "Stop looking for a house, and stop walking in this direction." Whoa, we were stunned. But for whatever reason, and bless His name that He was so patient with us, we submitted. We layed down that house, let it go, and stop walking in the direction of buying a house. God then led us to a time of teaching us, about finances, responsibity, obedience, and building a storehouse. We walked this out with Him, and knew that His plans were greater than ours. We knew that He did in fact have a house for us, and that He would give it to us in His timing, not ours. God, had spoken.
Right after all this happened, God made it very clear that He wanted us to have a baby, now. This terrified me, because deep down, I knew that we were going to obey. So, we followed His lead, and got pregnant. I thought in the back of my mind that we would start trying, but of course, because God said now, it only took one egg. God, had spoken.
So here I am, pregnant, in a two bedroom apartment, wondering what God is doing up there. He faithfully brought me to a place of being content with staying in this apartment. He made it clear to us that He had works He wanted us to complete while we were here, people He wanted us to minister to. He led me to this post, Why do they call them apartments?, and I found much encouragement, hope and reassurance that we weren't alone. I was alright if He asked us to stay here, and since He hadn't directed us to pursue a house yet, we assumed that's what He was asking us. Then one day we got a card in the mail from my sister-in-law. She told us about this program called "Home First". It's a government program for first time home buyers, who's income falls under a certain level. We met all the requirements and qualified right away. We now had our down payment covered, and all we needed to do was find a house. God gave us the ok to start looking again, so we did.
We weren't in a big rush like before, and since I was into my second trimester already, we figured we'd take our time. We kept looking for a nice character home in the same area we were looking in before. The program we had qualified for mentioned to us that they had three properties vaccant already, but they were all on the same street, the same street as my parents, and sister and brother-in-law. My hubby and I laughed at the idea, and closed that door right away. There was no way I was living that close to my family. I love them, but that was just not in my plan. Once again, Nin had spoken.
So we shut the door on God's face, and didn't completely realize how arrogant we were being until a couple of months ago. We realized that God wasn't able to move and work if we weren't allowing Him to, so we said we would at least take a look at the properties. We viewed one, and walked out completely forgetting what street it was on. This was our house, we knew it. In the weeks to come God sealed the deal, opened all the doors that needed to be opened, dotted all our i's and crossed all our t's. We bought a house!!! Ahhhh, on my parents and sisters street! God is so unbelievable. He has shown His faithfulness is ways that I had never imagined. He gave me a house, one month before this baby will be born. Our posession date is exactly one month before my due date. Our God is not limited by time! He doesn't need to do things the way we think they should be done. He gave me the desire of my heart, because He's my daddy and He wants to bless me, and bless me and bless me. I'm so glad that God has spoken in our lives. I'm so thankful that I submitted to His plans and not my own, that He was patient with me through my disobedience, that He has greater plans for us than we do, which He has made very evident by placing us on the same street as my family. When I allow God to minister to my spirit about His heart for that street, and His heart for my family, I'm floored. I'm so excited to see what God has in store. I look over all the human plans that I made, and God prevailed over them all. I've tasted and seen that His plans are to prosper me and not to harm me. He is good, He is faithful, and He is God.
God, has spoken. Over and out.

pregnancy sighs...

Don't remember the last time I experienced a full nights uninterupted sleep. I seem to wake every hour, for either toilet callings, back pain, general physical uncomforatableness, and more back pain. I know it's normal to get a lot less sleep as the time gets closer, you're big you're heavy and baby is taking up and using everything you need to sleep well, but since my back pain started back when we concieved, I've been having poor sleeps for a lot longer than the average pregnancy brings on. Sometimes my back cramps up real bad, to the point where I can't even roll over to my other side, so I get out of bed and walk it off. Yes, I wander around the apartment at odd hours, walking back and forth, up and down, from room to room. Finally when it's feeling a little better I get back into bed and lay there with my eyes wide open, wide awake. It's bringing back memories of when I had insomnia, and I would lay in bed and look at my husband, feeling tremendous jealousy of him laying there so peacefully. At times feeling impish and wanting to wake him up, so he can share in your misery. Although, my hubby has his share of complaints. Since I move around and get up so much, he doesn't rememeber the last time he has a good nights sleep either. Not to mention all the times he has to get up to get me something. He's become enemies with my body pillow, as it takes up most of his room. Add a large growing wife to that body pillow and hubby is left with negative sleeping room. Sigh....
People say the silliest things when you're pregnant. "Wow you're getting BIG!" is always a good one, but my personal favorite is,
"So when are you due?"
"September"
"Oh.....so you still have a ways to go yet."
"yeah".......................SMACK! Like I forgot. Thank you for bringing me back to reality, there would be nothing worse than me believing the lie that I'm almost there...... -lol ahhh!
Anyways, this is my life. Be blessed, God is good!

Love is not about finding the right person, but creating a right relationship with another

Baby seems we never ever agree

You like the movies

And I like T.V.

I take things serious

And you take 'em light

I go to bed early

And you party all night

Our friends are sayin'

We ain't gonna last

Cuz I move slowly

And baby I'm fast

I like it quiet

And I love to shout

But when we get together

It just all works out

who'd a thought we could be lovers

She makes the bed

And he steals the covers

She likes it neat

And he makes a mess

I take it easy

Baby I get obsessed

She's got the money

And he's always broke

I don't like cigarettes

And I like to smoke

Things in common

there just ain't a one

But when we get together

We have nothin' but fun

Baby ain't it somethin' How we lasted this long

You and me Provin' everyone wrong

Don't think we'll ever Get our differences patched

Don't really matter Cuz we're perfectly matched

We come together cuz opposites attract

~Paula Abdul~

It seems that more and more everyday, I'm learning that my husband and I probably couldn't be more different from eachother if we tried. We serve the same amazing God, we share the same love for one another, we share the same love for our wonderful daughter, and we share in the miracle of the creation of the new life inside me. But take all those things away and you're left with nothing but one black and one white. I find it so amazing how God has placed us together, He knew all the things that I lack and need, I would find in my husband. And He knew that all the things my husband lacks and needs, he would find in me. Taking it one step further, He knew the needs and lacks of my family, and that my husband would bring a new balance to them. Just as I bring a new balance to the lacks and needs in his family. My husband has tightened my screws so I wouldn't fall apart, and I've loosened him up, that that he won't crack or break under pressure. We've both grown so much in what it means and looks like to be a servant of the Lord to one another. I look back at the way things looked like when we first got married, and thank God everyday that He brought us through those hard times. We used our differences against eachother, instead of building eachother up, or using them to move forward in ways we were unable to before we had one another. I came across this quote this morning.

"Opposites attract, but after marriage, opposites attack. Most of the time, we are attracted to people who don't have the things that we have. Incompatibility is why we get married in the first place, but it's also used as a reason to divorce. "

~ by Dr. Charles Lowery ~

I can't help but have an aching heart for those struggling in their marriages because they've been blinded by the enemy to think that our differences with our spouses are a bad thing, something to be defensive against or in opposition to. Dr. Lowery goes on to say,

"Incompatibility is just a lack of communication. If we just try to love our spouse the way we want to be loved, we are in trouble. Unless you communicate, it's difficult to know how to love another person."

Our society has become so selfish when it comes to love. It is no longer about serving one another, but about self gratification. Roaming around this world, trying to find the 'right' person that will make 'me' happy, that will be all that I want them to be, so that I can be fulfilled and satisfied, so that my dreams and goals can be fulfilled. It's ok if they want to have their own dreams and goals, just as long as they don't conflict with mine, in which case I'd have to go and find someone better suited for my needs.

I know, this sounds awful, but this is exactly how most people in our world are taught to think. "There is always a way out if it's not meant to be." Heaven forbid we pour ourselves into working hard, into doing whatever it takes, nah.....that requires something of me, commitment.

I've been aching for the marriage of someone close to me. Without the knowledge of the love and grace of God in their lives, I wonder how they will press through, when the advice they're receiving is that if worse comes to worse, there is a way out. And really, if it wasn't "meant to be", you don't want to go against 'fate' as it would be waste of time.

So sad....

I need your prayers. My husband and I want to be a light in this dark time, but there's been a wall built up, and these loved ones have pulled away. I find it very difficult to have a relationship with someone who hides themselves, who keeps their trials in secret, and doesn't reveal their true heart. We've not been placed in a position where we feel we can speak into their lives, and it hurts to see them hurting so much when I know there is so much more for them.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ~

How could one even try to walk these things out without the power of God behind them? It's not possible. These things go against our very nature as human beings. We are not programmed this way, we are selfish and sinful. Please pray for us as we seek the Lord on what our role should look like in this time, and that we walk obediently to His will and not ours. Blessings, and may God be with you in your marriage today, and pour down His love and mercy.

There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path...

Wise words...
It's always neat to get a big dose of solid biblical truth from a multi-million dollar blockbuster hit movie. I'm sure it puts a smile on God's face when He watches many walk away from a Hollywood film more in tune to His heart without even knowing it.
I've been pondering on this truth the last little bit. I've been feeling a little off balance in my relationships lately. Back around Christmas time, God led me and my husband into a season of rest. He directed us to remove many of the things on our plates at the time, and concentrate a lot more on our marriage and family. In this time we've grown closer together than we ever have before, and have been very blessed to see the Spirit of God move in different areas of our lives, sometimes in ways we least suspected. Through it all, we've grown closer to Him.
These days, God is making it loud and clear that our season of rest is coming very quickly to an end, and that it's time to move forward, whatever that may look like. In stepping back, we not only stepped back from the busyness and chaos of everything, but also the importance of getting together with others in the body of Christ. I believe that we walked this out as God has led us to, and that He's using this to teach us about balance. In the relationships we've kept in contact with, we've found we've been starting to leave feeling a little drained. At first I thought nothing of it, and knew that there were specific relationships that God has placed in my life right now that have high needs, and that I need to seed into. After a while, we found ourselves constantly helping others in the areas they need help in that both of us started asking the questions, where are we at? What do we need to change? Where do we need encouragement? What is wrong in our marriage or walk with God that God needs to convict us in? We looked around, and suddenly realized that we've not put anyone in a place to speak correction into our lives. As we've been seeding into others, no one has been seeding into us, and in the end, we've found ourselves mal-nourished, and unbalanced.
I love how God has a balanced plan for every area of our lives, and when we fall outside of that balance, we feel a lack inside our spirits, telling us that we're low in fuel somewhere. When we walk in obedience to God's will for our lives, we're ready, willing and quick to refuel when needed. Ironically, I've been finding myself excited for someone older and wiser to come along and tell me what to change and where to grow. I'm actually craving correction! God has placed a few people in our hearts to start walking with on a regular basis, and I'm very excited to see what God has in store. Some prophetic words have been spoken over us, and there are some amazing servants of the Lord who are willing to walk this road out with us. I'm so blessed that there are others who love me too much to leave me where I am, and who fear the Lord too much to watch us stay stagnant, when I know that God has big plans for us. My mind is blown every time I take a step back and look at the church family God has blessed me with. I would not be where I am today without their support and love. Don't get me wrong, I'm no super human who has no pride or ego. There definately are times when correction is the last thing I want, where I've turned away and done my own thing anyway against the wisdom of others. But I'm choosing to believe that God has now brought my heart to a place of knowing what's good for me, and knowing what's not. Doesn't mean I'll always make the right choice, doesn't mean I'll always receive correction with a smile.
There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path. I could sit here and not grow, and no one would know. I could fake my walk, and pretend that I'm mature in all the areas I need to be. I could very easily remain stagnant, idle, lazy. I can seem and feel "holy" when no one else is around to frustrate my preferences. I can fool myself into thinking that I'm mature when there is no one around to challenge me. But isolation like this breeds nothing but deceitfulness. I want others to challenge me, to teach me and mold me. I do not want to live a lie, that everyone needs to change but me. I know I will grow faster and stronger when I have someone wiser to learn from and be accountable to.
I'm really looking forward to embarking on this new season with God and my husband. I hope and pray that we keep our focus on Him and His plan, and walk accordingly and obediently. I've been so encouraged by all those who God has placed in my life to seed into. I've been so blessed to watch them grow and serve God in new ways, to pick up their cross and keep walking. I've come to learn that growth can not take place without sacrifice, and to be able to watch someone walk in sacrifice to their King, is and has been an amazing privelledge. God is good.......all the time.
~Peace~

Little one update

My baby's home now reaches 4 1/2 inches above my belly button. Baby is gaining weight rapidly, and by the end of next week he or she will weigh in at about 3 pounds and measure about 16 inches long. Head hair is starting to grow, and baby now has eyebrows and eyelashes. Baby also has nails reaching the tips of his or her fingers and toes. Baby's skin is pink and smooth. Brain growth over the next two months will be dramatic. Baby's lungs, though still immature, are now beginning to function.

The making of a human life is nothing short of a miracle. What a blessing it is to be able to produce another human being into this world in love and obedience to my heavenly father. Each day I'm becoming less nervous and more and more excited. I can't wait to meet this new little one, and see who it is that God had destined to add to my family in two short months.