I run for you.

Well we got back from Atlanta on Sunday & I can honestly say Ella traveled excellent! We left last Tuesday night at 9pm, we drove 1/2 way to Charlotte & Ella slept the whole way! It worked out great!
Then Wednesday morning we headed out to Atlanta, it was good we just took our time & stopped at some outlets, had lunch, and when it was Ella's nap time again we finished the drive. She did great!
Then two days at a conference she really surprised us! She slept when the speakers where speaking & she was up, eating when we were having breaks. Could not have planned it better! Friday afternoon she started to get a little restless & did not want to go back into the dark room. They have the lights super low & by Friday afternoon she just did not want to go back in there so Jeremy & I took turns on the last two sessions. But all in all it was a great trip.

As always learned so much! One of the things that stuck out to me the most was giving honor to our leaders/those over us. The Lord has been dealing a lot with my heart & the issue of pride I carry around. Especially with Jeremy. I just have to go down fighting in the little things. I have to win even if I KNOW that I'm wrong, I can't let him be right. Its not good. I am find in the big decisions he makes for our family, but its those small little things that I just buck him constantly.
The Lord just showed me through Craig Grochel that we are to give our leaders Honor. Its one thing to give them respect, but respect is something that they have to earn where has Honor is just flat out honoring them even if they don't deserve it.
It really made me take a look at my actions/responses to Jeremy. I don't honor him. I do respect him as a person, but can I say yes I honor him...if I were being honest I'd have to say no.
So I am committed to moving into this process. I so want my husband to be the head of our house & I want to be that help meet that the Lord intended me to be for him. I want to make him better just by the way I respond to him or by the way I love him. That is my biggest desire. So I'm really leaning on the Lord to not only strip away that ugliness about me that is called Pride, but also teach me how in the small things I can Honor Jeremy.
So that was pretty huge for me.

In other news, I decided to run a 10k (which is 6miles). Its a run that is bring awareness to sex trade. The race is called Run for Their Lives. Here is a link: http://www.runfortheirlives.net/
There are two main reasons why I chose to do this race on such short notice. In all honesty the first reason is because I have been letting my "self" control me these last couple months. I have loosened the reigns on how I eat & exercise, and well its led to nothing but weight gain. As most of you know (if you don't you can read earlier posts on this part of my journey) I have committed to Honor God with ALL of me, even by what I eat & how I exercise. Lately I have just been giving into self & not caring. Its easier. Unfortunately. I would much rather sit on my couch & eat bon bons if truth be told! But this race has been a motivation to get back on track. Training for this race will help me get back in gear & be disciplined again.

The 2nd is to bring awareness to the sex trade that is happening right now.
Jeremy went to Nicaragua & he was telling me this story of a girl who was sold by her mother into prostitution because she needed money to provide for her family & selling her young daughter was the only way she knew to make money. So its for the girls (and boys) still out there who are in need of a savior & in need of being rescued. I run for you. Your body is hurt in ways I will never understand nor can even imagine & while my pain is still physical pain it is incomparable. I have never ran 6 miles & I'm not sure I even can, but as I do & my body aches each ache will be attached with a prayer & a name. My God will resucue you. I run for you.

One year ago...

I can't believe one year later all that has happened to us! It's so crazy to be leaving for Catalyst this year & remember the state of my heart last year. Also how God fulfilled my dream, He gave me a baby!
Granted it was not they way we thought it would come (by way of adoption), but rather to have my own.
If you are an interested reader, go back to October 2009 & read from there. God is incredible & I am still in shock some days at how this all came about! I find myself reading back to those days & saying...wow God, you really DID have a plan. Oh foolish me, will I ever learn?

I am excited & expectant to see what God has in store for us this year at Catalyst. Arms open wide, ready for what you will Lord!

Till next time!

My big girl

Well it's official!
Ella GIGGLED for the first time ever!! It was so awesome!!
We were at home & our best friends Luke & Steph were over, Jeremy was just playing around with Ella. He was doing what most Daddy's do which is toss & throw babies around & they love it! Ella was having a blast of course & all of a sudden she let out the cutest giggle!!! We all looked at each other & I ran over & hugged then & then jumped & twirled around!! I've been waiting to hear a giggle come out!!
It was great moment, one I wil not forget!
....now if we can just get her to do it again! We tried several times after that & there was no such luck, but I'm sure there are plenty of giggles waiting to come out!!
Two months & 3 weeks....my little girl is slowly getting to be a big girl! Loving every moment!! <3

Gearing up

Well...its that time of year again & we are in high gear! There are a ton of things we're doing this fall so its been kind of crazy...hence my lack of blogging.

I started Breaking Free, a study by Beth Moore with some ladies at our church. There are about 80 women who are participating & we all have a table of 7-10 women. My table was litterally hand picked by God. I prayed & prayed about who He would have at my table & all their names came up (minus one who was invited by a friend) :) But I just think its just amazing how he knows who & what we need, before we do. I have to say I've been blown away by the response of the girls at my table & how they are moving & stepping into hard places! Ugh it is so amazing ot be a part of & I'm humbled that he allows me to do this!

Jeremy has started Truthworks again. What Truthworks is, is its a group that really disects a book of the Bible. This time they are studying Acts. He says its going well on his end too, so lots to praise God for!!

Another fall activity we do is go to Catalyst. It is a conference that we've been going to litterally for 8 or 9 years. Its amazing & we SO look forward to this time every year. Jeremy & I ride down together & its a time of reconnecting, talking about future plans, where we are with God & where we want to go. I LOVE this time of year! Also last year was the first time the Lord untied our hearts towards having children!!! And....as you all know...He totally blessed us with a sweet baby girl!! I can't tell you HOW excited I am to bring this sweet little life to the place that brougth jeremy & I's hearts together in unity....granted....we had other plans of how we were goign to have children...but again! The Lord has a plan, all we have to do is position ourselves to get in line with it!! :)
I love that & am SO beyhond thankful. This for sure will be a sweet sweet time & I can't wait! I'm ready & expectant!! ♥

Here is a picture of Ella! She will be wearing her protective ear gear, seeing as Catalyst is pretty loud!! :)
Hahah, cracks me up. My God is so amazing! ♥!!

2 Months

Can you even believe it? Its already been two months that our little Ella has joined our family. Amazing. I guess it is true when they say time flies, so enjoy every minute with her. For the most part I have found that to be true. We love this little life & are so excited to show her what it looks like to live a life devoted to Jesus!

So its been two months & in baby world that means the first round of vaccines. Ouch! :)
Ella did great! She only cried when the needles were actually poking her! I was really proud of her! :) Here are some pictures of the process....notice her face getting redder & redder. haha :) I think the last picture is my favorite...she's just perfectly content after it was all said & done! So proud of her! ♥



Poor little baby is going to have a rude awakening!

No Coinsedence

So...as I sat waiting for my 4a.m. phone call to hear that Jeremy had gone into the city & returned again...I get a call at midnight from him. He proceeded to tell me that the axle broke on their car making it impossible for them to go into the city! In all honesty I rejoiced a little & thanked God.
See I don't know if he would have been fine, I don't know if something bad would have happened, all I know is that I prayed (as did many others) for his protection....and for now, he is safe & sound back at home!
I'm so thankful!
Thank you Lord for even the small things like axles breaking at just the right time. You put my mind & wild thoughts at ease. I love you & am so grateful for this family you've given me. We are now complete again! ♥

Nicaragua

So...tonight as I sit waiting for 4 a.m. to roll around, because that is when Jeremy is going to call me...

I found this blog that I wrote out the Thursday before Ella was born, but never got the chance to post it to this blog....Well funny thing is...its all about trusting God that he has a plan & He IS in control...always. Nothing surprises him...why is this still shocking to me? I know this.

Well anyway...Jeremy is in Nicaragua....as you know. He called me today & told me that he is about to enter into a really dangerous part of the city. He is going with a man who is from there & they are going to get video footage of some of the prostitutes there. See we support House of Hope http://www.houseofhopenicaragua.com/ they are a prostitute rescue mission organization & they take prostitutes & teach them a trade like sewing or making cards & they go to the markets to see them so they can get an income rather than have to sell their bodies to make money. So a group from blue ridge is down there now. Well Jeremy & this local man are going to go down to where the prostitutes are to get video of them....apparently its a pretty dangerous area, because no one else from the group could go because they would stick out. Apparently Jeremy blends right in & everyone things he is from there...little do they know the kid can't speak a lick of Spanish! :)
I've been nervous all day for Jeremy going to this place in the middle of the night, I've asked several people to pray for him tonight as he embarks on this adventure....and then I came across this....

This was a blog I wrote the Thursday before Ella was born. I find it very interesting that the Lord had me just sitting, waiting, and trusting that everything would work out....oh why oh why do I doubt my God? Is he not bigger than this little life I lead? Can he not protect Jeremy? Can he not go into the streets with them & change lives toward him? My you increase my tiny, tiny faith Lord.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Well today its official. I will have a July baby, with a Ruby birthstone! ♥
I was excited about either because both months have nice birthstones (not sure why that mattered hahah but it did)...June is a pearl...and then another stone...not sure which one, I guess they couldn't decide on one for June so it has two...and then July is a Ruby. I love that stone! I also didn't mind which month Ella came in because my Dad's birthday is in June & my mom's birthday is in July...so I guess...Momma...you WIN!!! ;)
So a July baby it will be!
Still no action as far as contractions or anything yet....I am so curious as to see what will actually happen. I sure hope it just happens naturally & she comes on her own...but you know the other way works too. I guess I just need to remember that inducing isn't a sentence for a c-section....plenty of girls I know have had to be induced & they have given birth naturally...some with an epidural & some with out anything! So. We are in good shape & God knows the date of this sweet baby's arrival. After all...didn't hasn't he had this thing planned out this whole time without my input?? YEP.
So...here we are...I will wait & trust & just believe that this is in God's hands....still...I don't need to pick it up & try to control it. Its not mine to control.
So, once again Lord I lay this down too....and my responsibility is to Trust you...and so I will. ♥




Psalm 91:2
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."


Psalm 111:7
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.


Psalm 143:8
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.


Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding


Romans 15:13
13 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.


Amen