HI-larious Blog!!!!

This will be short, but I just couldn't let this one get away. I've been following a particular blog in my Google Reader for the past few weeks, and have wanted to post this particular link for a while. I do encourage you to take a minute to look at the newer posts, but this one in particular just made me laugh so hard!

Amy Hulme, this blog makes me think of you, just because you make cakes and know the difficulity of it all. I hope you get a huge kick out of seeing some of the "Professional Cakes Gone Horribly, Hilariously Wrong!"

Monkey See, Monkey Doo-Doo

Be Blessed and Encouraged!

REALLY Cool Update

Sunday morning at church, we had a nice little surprise. A couple years ago, Aaron and I did a ministry called Apartment Life. The end goal of this ministry is to move into an apartment complex, plan and execute all of the social events each month, and build relationships with others who live in your apartment community, in order to impact them for Christ. While this was one of the most difficult years of my (our) life, I have found it to be very rewarding in a couple different ways. During the first couple months of doing Apartment Life, we met a really sweet couple who were Hurricane Katrina evacuees. We met them and instantly felt a connection with them. They were semi looking for a church, and after hanging out with them a few times we invited them to visit Watermark. Lance (the boyfriend) was traveling quite a bit and so only Ophelia and her daughter would come. Anyway, once we moved away from doing Apartment Life, we lost touch with them.

I've often thought about them and wondered how they were doing. Ophelia was planning on attending the Dallas Design School, while Lance continued to travel often for his job. Well, back to Sunday morning...

Lance and Ophelia were at church, and were sitting in the row right in front of us just a few people over!! What joy it brought to my heart to see them there, not knowing after we moved, what had become of them. After the service ended, we had a short chance to catch up with them. They have been attending Watermark ever since the first time we brought them and have since moved to separate apaprtments (they were not married), and plugged in at Watermark! Ophelia graduated from Design School as well! Oh, it was so fun to see how the Lord used us to impact, even in such a minor way, such sweet people!

Thank you Lord for the reimnder that your word NEVER goes void! Thank you for giving me a small glimpse that our time in Apartment Life, while even though it was SUPER hard, did not go unused! I pray for Lance, Ophelia and her sweet little 9 year-old daughter, that you would continue to bless them, and grow their hearts to be more like you!

Be Blessed and Encouraged!

Dallas Baby Shower

This past Sunday I was truly blessed by some wonderful friends who threw Caleb & I a baby shower! I have looked forward to this particular shower for so long because all of my best friends from Dallas were there! Each and every person in attendance has played such a major role in my life over the past almost six years! What joy I experienced having them all in the same room! I felt loved beyond words, and enjoyed the pampering I received! Thank you to ALL who planned, created, cooked, and came to a day that I will never forget! I love each and every one of you for not only being my friend, but for sharing in the joy and excitement of sweet Caleb! Each one of you know what a truly miracle child he is for us!!

Me with the sweet hostesses!

(L to R) Katie, Chelsi, myself, Karla

The awesome dipaer cake that Katie made!

I love diaper cakes, they are just so cool!!

The sign-in table. I brought the picture of Caleb, and my mom and I thought it would be cool to set out some baby pics of me, to see who he looks like. For the record, I think I'm winning at this point!

A name plaque that my mom gave me for Caleb.

His name means faithfulness, the devoted one, and loyal.

My prayer for sweet Caleb is that he will be faithful,

devoted and loyal to the Lord throughout his life.

All of us preggo ladies!

(L to R) Stacey - Dec. 19th (if I remember correctly!)

Myself - Jan. 11th

Amy - Feb. 12th

Melanie - Feb. 21st (if I remember correctly!)

I had such a blast making the thank you gifts for my sweet hostesses!

Back in February, they all surprised me by meeting up with us for dinner and we had a wonderful picture taken during this time of just the four of us, so it was a no brainer to use that very special picture! I used different designs (each of their favs) from my office and truly enjoyed giving them something that has so much special meaning to me!

Katie & I

Chelsi & I

Karla & I

(yes, she did ask to put her hand on my belly! I loved it!!)

Melanie & I!

Melanie lives in Florence, Italy with her husband

and they are involved with Campus Crusade over there,

impacting hundreds of lives. I love reading their blog and

hearing about Italians who are coming to know the Lord through them!!

What a blessing to have her at my Dallas shower!

My mom surprised me and flew in town for the shower.

What a blessing to my heart!

My precious small group girls!

ALL of them were there, it was such a WONDERFUL time!!

Thank you girls, you made my day!

They thought it would be funny to get this pic. Like they have any tummies to stick out! Can you tell who is the big black (and white) sheep in this pic? You guessed it, ME!! I love you girls!!

Better lighting in this pic!

Mom & I!!

The four girls of our community group!

(L to R) Andrea, Karla, myself, Katie

And of course, my mom took this precious pic of Haley & I.
She came over to me and just climbed up in my lap, it was so sweet!!

Be Blessed and Encouraged!

The Big Reveal...

Last week I wrote that I would have a big surprise at the end of this week, well, here it is!!! We were blessed by some WONDERFUL people in our lives, who gifted us with a 3d/4d sonogram session this afternoon!! There are no words that can express the emotions I felt looking at my sweet baby boy, watching him move and kick, suck his foot, grab his ear, yawn and smile, all while still in my growing belly!! WOW! With our sonogram, we received a DVD of the entire thing, 25 minutes long, a CD with almost 50 pictures of him, and even some black & white and sepia printouts of some of the best shots we got! As I was laying there watching him on the big wall (they had the images projected onto the wall in LARGE form, it was so cool!), I couldn't help but think about my absolute favorite chapter in the entire bible, Psalm 139. Honestly, up until we found out we were pregnant, and even now, up until today, I always applied it to myself. I was created in my mother's womb, I am fearfully & wonderfully made, I am unique. But today, I was blessed with a whole new outlook and understanding of that Psalm. I understood it as if the Lord was reading it to me about Caleb. The first few moments I saw him up on the big wall, I could not believe it was him, and I was overwhelmed with joy, contentment and true excitement of what is to come. And yes, I did cry (not surprising though!). All in all, this was one of the best days of my life, and I will cherish these pictures of Caleb forever. Who knows if I will ever have this opportunity again, but I know for today, I am going to cherish every single moment of this pregnancy I have left...and then the real adventure begins!! Enjoy the photos!!

I think he has my round nose here

This one is a little awkward, but the two little things in front of his mouth are two of his little toes (the others are blocked by his arm)

He was trying to get his little foot in his mouth here

And mission accomplished! Yes folks, that is his foot!

He was clearly getting tired of us pushing on him so that he would move and cooperate a little more. He yawned probably 4 or 5 times during the 25 minute time span. So precious!!

This one and the next are probably my two favorite. He has such a sweet little face, I can't wait to soak him up when he gets here!!!!

Another precious "semi-profile" picture!!

Caleb, we love you so much and cannot wait to meet you! You already are so much a part of the joy I experience daily! Thank you Lord, for such a gift as this sweet little life!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139: 13-16

Be Blessed and Encouraged!

Tears of Joy...

As I was sitting looking back at all my previous posts since the beginning of this blog, I was sweetly reminded of my very first post. A Father's Love Letter. Re-reading it brought such tears of joy to my heart. I wanted to repost it here so that we can all be reminded of the love HE has for us. Unconditional love! I pray that as you read these words you are encouraged to dig deeper in your relationship with Him, or begin a new one if you don't know Him yet. Only He can fill every void in our hearts!

A Father's Love Letter

The words you are about to experience are true.
They will change your life if you let them.
For they come from the heart of God.
He loves you.
And He is the Father you have been looking for all your life.
This is His love letter to you.

My Child,You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfullly made. Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalm 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I love that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest pary heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is...Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love,
your Dad
Almighty God

Taken directly from the site: http://www.fathersloveletter.com/

Be Blessed and Encouraged!