A Closer Look

Right now, Sesame Street is on. This is Parker's favorite show. I sat him down in front of my daddy's tv to watch, and I keep watching as he scoots closer and closer to get a better look. Now, this tv is a 52" (I think; It's huge) so it's not like he's not getting a good view from anywhere in the room.

My, how that makes me feel guilty. Not for sitting my child in front of the tv, but for not taking after him when it comes to getting a closer look at something I love. I love God's Word because it is a direct way to my Savior's heart. When I sit down to read scripture, am I digging as deep as I can in order to be tranformed into the image of Christ? Sadly, no. I'll admit, sometimes I read God's Word and not know what I just read. I love those times when the Lord just grabs my heart with a piece of truth, and I keep thinking about it all day long. That could happen every day if I would discipline myself to always take a closer look at His Word and do what the man in Psalm 1 does who "delights in the law of the Lord" and "meditates on it day and night."

Thank you, Parker, for teaching me something even though you don't even realize it.

Side note: Isn't it amazing that a bunch of puppets have captured the love and attention of children 40+ years?!

Warning about BellaBands

In case you're wondering Bellabands are a piece of stretchy fabric that allows pregnant women to keep unbuttoned prepregnancy pants on or too loose maternity pants on or same thing for postpartum. I bought one to try out on Saturday (I actually bought a cheaper version called the BeBand made by Bellabands.) and wore it for the first time today. I have finally started to poke out a little bit which makes me feel better because in between the first trimester nausea and the finally starting to look a little pregnant time period I often wondered if I was actually pregnant. Anyways, back to the point, I wore it today on my outing to the OB for a doctor's appointment, and afterward Paul and I went to Walmart to pick up a few things. Like most pregnant women, I had to make a trip to the restroom while I was there. (FYI, I really don't like to use the restroom at Walmart because they are always nasty, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.) After I left the restroom and met back up with Paul, he quickly informed that part of my belly was showing. I had put the Beband back in place, but I had not put my actual shirt back down. They were made out of the same fabric and were the same color so I hadn't noticed. I'm just so thankful that Paul was close by and told me about this! So, my warning about BellaBands or BeBands or like things: Make sure you pull your shirt down over them or you will look a little silly.

Parker at 18 Months

During our moved, Parker turned 18 months old. I can't believe my little baby boy is a year and a half already. It just makes me wanna cry if I think about it too much. He just amazes me everyday as he grows and learns. He keeps picking up new words although he doesn't always use them to communicate. Anytime anyone laughs, he'll join in, which just makes you laugh even more because he's so doggone cute. When his daddy gets home, he's stuck to him like glue. We will watch for him to pull in the driveway and Parker just can't contain his excitement. I absolutely love watching Paul and Parker brush their teeth together. Parker will even try to spit like his daddy. It's their little special activity. In fact, as I was watching them tonight, Parker pushed me out of the bathroom and shut the door!

He is a very lovable and snugable little boy. He will squeeze you around your neck and say, "mmmm." He will do this over and over again. He loves to take baths. He has also become obsessed with trains. He loves Elmo or as he says "Melmo." He loves to eat but is picky about the texture of his food. He enjoys going outside when the weather is nice and pick up sticks. He is so special to us, and we love him and enjoy him more and more everyday!

It's Been a Week

It's been a week since we moved out of our house in Pinewood and into my childhood home in Bethune. Last Saturday was tiring. In fact, the whole weekend was tiring. But, finally everything got packed up and put into a storage unit or brought with us here. It is a miracle that most of our belongings fit in to a 12' X 20' storage unit! Parker is getting adjusted. He has more things here to get into since this house is not as baby proof as ours was. We are continuing to pray that the Lord would open doors for where he has us next. We are learning patience and trust. We are eager to get somewhere where we can make our next home, a place to settle in and call our own. We would appreciate any prayers for us.

Overwhelmed

Right now I am so overwhelmed and stuck that I have nothing better to do than to write about how overwhelmed I am. I need to be packing, doing laundry, cleaning dishes, stopping my child from eating days old cheerios off the floor, putting clothes away, packing some more...I could go on. My house is in such disarray I don't know what to do next. Yes, I realize that comes with moving, but I feel so disorganized. Right now I could use a little fairy that would go around and with the flick of her wand have everything done. I know I have to climb this mountain one step at a time, but I just don't know what side to start on so right now, I'm wandering around the base of it looking up at the daunting task ahead. Ok, so I got that off my chest so now I got to go do something.

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye

This past Sunday, January 9th, Paul read his letter of resignation to the church. We have been thinking and praying about this decision for months. The Lord has made it very clear that the time has come for us to move on from Pinewood Baptist, but it is so hard to do. We have made so many wonderful friends, and this place has become home. In fact, it is the only home Paul and I have known as a married couple. It's so hard to say goodbye to the youth we have watched grow and change over the past 4 and a half years. We have invested our lives into the ministry in which God has called us to here, and we will leave a part of our hearts behind. Our goodbyes will not be forever because we will keep in touch. However, it is still so hard. Leaving one place means you are going to another. At this point, we don't know exactly where that is. For the short-term, we will be moving in with my daddy and his wife in Bethune. There we will wait for the Lord to open the door to the next ministry. My flesh wants to question God because I want the security of where we are going. I want to be able to settle in somewhere, especially since baby number 2 is on its way. However, I trust in the omniscient God in whom I have placed my faith. I know He has everything worked out for us according to his purpose. I know He has lessons to teach us to strengthen our faith in him. So for now, I am packing and praying. I am so thankful that the all day nausea has become more of just every now and then nausea. I hope that you will pray for us and for Pinewood Baptist during this transition. May the Lord be glorified in all things!

A Baby is Coming!

Although most of you who read my blog already know, I wanted to officially annouce that Paul and I are expecting baby number 2 on August 2. We are very excited, but at the same time the thought of being a family of four is quite overwhelming. This time around I have had much more "morning" sickness. It's really all day sickness. I absolutely hate throwing up (but who doesn't anyway) so when I feel nauseous I just sit in the recliner and don't move. This makes for a very messy house. I'm so thankful for Paul right now. He has helped out with keeping the house clean, at least as clean as he can while working 2 jobs, and prepared supper most nights. I can't stand to go into the kitchen. It just makes me feel sick. When Parker and I are home for lunch, I quickly throw something together for us to eat and then we eat in the living room. I hope this stage passes quickly. With Parker, the morning sickness that I had ended around 11 weeks. Since today I begin my 10th week, I'm holding out hope that the sickness will be gone very soon. Well, since Parker is napping, and I'm not feeling to sick right now, I need to go do some house work.