Saturday, May 29, 2010

It's A Miracle!!!!

Oh how I have been waiting and waiting to be able to post this video!!!! This video signifies what Caleb has been doing since the first 5 seconds we moved in to our new home! Now, I can rest easy, and sweet Asher can come whenever he wants, since I kept saying all I wanted before Asher got here was this:


Be Blessed and Encouraged!


Sneak Peak

So, this past weekend we moved! While we love our new place, we're still trying to get things organized and find a home for everything. I'll do a separate post later with pictures and all, but wanted to give a sneak peak. Caleb loves it here and because his room is so big, we have designated it his official play room (YAY! No more toys in the living room)! Here he is sitting in his chair playing with his legos. This is a special picture becuase it's the first time he has gone to the chair himself and sat in it! He loves it now that I think he understands what it's for, and has been making regular "sitting" time in it!


Be Blessed and Encouraged!



Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Monday, May 17, 2010

If you have children, no matter the age, or want children...

PLEASE READ THIS!!

The Stehlik Chronicles

What a great reminder of the grace and patience we ALL need, no matter the age!! Thanks Sarah, for sharing your heart and giving us a little glimpse into your world. As a mom with boy(s), I always feel like I get extra goodness and insight from reading your blog knowing that my days of experiencing the same things you are, are coming quickly and fiercly!!

Be Blessed and Encouraged!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Awesome Day!

Today was an awesome day! We started out with daddy making pancakes for breakfast (which were his best yet), followed by Watermark's Baptism Service, packing, shopping and then our first trip (of many to come) to the pool! Needless to say, we're all tuckered out!

Two to four times a year Watermark (our church) has a Baptism service at Curtis Park. This is such a fun way to spend Sunday morning, not only becuase of being outside, but the worship, fellowship, hundreds of baptisms and the yummy food! We didn't get to stay as long as I would have liked to, but we got to stay for the most important part, the baptisms. The daughter of some friends of ours was baptized today and it was so fun to be there and support her! We also had a great time with our community group just hanging out in the shade as we all sweated up a storm. As we were driving home, I remember telling Aaron how much I hated the Texas heat and wondered when our day would come to move to Colorado.

Anyway, we accomplished quite a bit today packing and I was able to get out with a friend and go sale shopping at Kohl's. When Caleb woke up from his 3 hour nap, that he so desperately needed, we made a quick trip downstairs to the pool. It was a little chilly at first, but I definitely got used to it and it felt wonderful, until the clouds rolled in and got a little chilly. We tried out Caleb's new raft and he seemed to like it except that I think it might be a little snug over his thighs! Wish I would have gotten a few pics, but I'll have many more opportunities after we move!

Here are some pics from the Baptism, enjoy!
Haley desperately wanted to hold Caleb, she loves him so much! It's so fun to watch their friendship and I can't wait to see how it will grow over the years!

Caleb was so excited in this picture because he saw Daddy!

Me and my sweetie!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture! I know I'm biased, but he is SUCH a honey!!

Be Blessed and Encouraged!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mother's Day 2010

Happy Mother's Day to all you amazing mommas out there! What a special day to celebrate the amazing blessing we have to raise our sweet children! I am blessed beyond measure to be a momma to Caleb, and soon enough to Asher. There is nothing I have ever wanted more in life than to be called mommy. Everyday I thank the Lord for this gift. It's the hardest thing I've ever done, but by far the most rewarding. I wouldn't trade my early mornings, late nights, cuddling and crying days for ANYTHING!!! I truly cannot imagine this life without my boys!

As a girl from a very young age, all I ever wanted was to be a mom. I can remember making lists of all the names I wanted to name my 18 children (yes, I used to want 18 children). In my 20's I found out after a different circumstances and medical issues, that it was probably not possible for me to have biological children. Although my heart was broken, I continued to trust the Lord with this desire of my heart, and decided that even if I couldn't have my own, I would adopt. I've always known that no matter what it took, I would be a mom.

Obviously, finding out after only two months of trying, that we were pregnant with Caleb, I was speechless. Oh how I prayed for that moment of seeing a positive pregnancy test, and not ever knowing if that was going to happen. I truly believe that Caleb is our miracle child, and I thank the Lord every single day for his precious life, that He entrusted Aaron and I to raise him in a godly home, and to disciple him well. What a calling it is, to be a parent and I am so richly blessed.

When we decided that we wanted to try for another one, we went into it with the same mindset. Just becuase we had one, didn't mean we would be able to have another, so we set our expectations low, and continued to pray and seek the Lord for his will for our family, whether it was for more biological children, or if it was our time to pursue adoption. Again, we were shocked to find out we were pregnant the very first month.

I continue to be amazed and often find myself crying tears of such joy because the Lord has fulfilled the greatest desire of my heart. While we don't know what the future holds for Caleb and Asher, we trust that the Lord's plan for their lives are far greater than anything we could ever dream of, hope for or plan for them. Of course, my heart's greatest desire has now changed to them coming to know the Lord through a personal relationship with him. To grow in their love for him, and others, to know His word and to passionately follow after Him.

As I've written before, my absolute favorite passage is Psalm 139. Everytime I read it, or even think of it, I tear up, because I truly feel that even though we do not know what the future holds, the Lord does, and I can continue to trust in Him for my every need. For my children's every need. For their safety. For their hearts. For their lives.

I was given the following by a friend at my baby shower and often read back over it, reminding myself on those difficult days of the gift I have of being a mom. I know that not every woman who desires this same gift is blessed with it, and although I don't know why the Lord chose me, I am thankful He did. Today, I am praying for the hearts of all of you out there who have this same desire, yet it has not been fulfilled. Having been where you are, I know what you are going through. The longing, the heartache, the wondering why. Continue to trust in the One who knows the desires of your heart. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

"Before I Was A Mom"
Author Unknown

Before I was a Mom,
I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom,
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom,
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words of lullabies.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on
Pooped on
Spit on
Chewed on
Peed on
Or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Mom,
I had complete control of:
My thoughts
My body
And my mind.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
So that doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
Could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my herat outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know the bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
Could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was ok.
I had never known the warmth
The joy
The love
The heartache
The wonder
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Today and always, I pray you feel especially blessed and encouraged! Happy Mother's Day!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Bump

So, I am now almost 23 weeks and am shocked at how fast this pregnancy is going! I know, I shouldn't be, but I am! I'm feeling great, sleeping great and am realizing that Asher moves at the same times during the day and evening that Caleb used to! We're obviously praying that he's just as easy as Caleb has always been, but know that it's not that likely! Anyway, here are my latest two belly pics. Kind of funny that my 21 week looks a little bigger than my 22 week, I must be getting wider!! I've only gained 3 pounds this entire pregnancy (above my pre-pregnancy weight) so I'm thinking that I'll gain it all in the last month, like last time, and that it will all be water weight. The Dr. doesn't seem worried about it since he's never mentioned it. Anyway...here's the pics!

21 weeks

22 weeks
Be Blessed and Encouraged!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

16 Months

Caleb, you are 16 months old today! You are becoming more of a honey every single day! This momma knows that my days with just you are numbered and I have been trying to make those few days memorable! Here are some things in the past month that you have loved, and maybe not loved so much!

1. You LOVE getting out of the house and going walking. Firewheel is your (and mine) favorite place to go. All the people, the fountain and Auntie Anne's Pretzels!

2. You have recently become more independent and love to sit on the couch NEXT to daddy or mommy, but not in our laps!

3. You have taken a few steps here and there, but we are still waiting for that little lightswitch to flip on and for you to start walking full time, all by yourself

4. You are getting your 12th tooth, a molar no less, and you don't like it! We don't really like it either baby! I can't imagine how painful it is for you!

5. You continue to eat anything and everything we give you. This momma knows what a blessing this is and I am so thankful everyday for this!!

6. Your vacab is slowly expanding. You can now clearly say dada, mama, momomo (more), ni ni (night night), no no (no). We're working on thank you right now.

7. I love to sleep, but this momma struggles with pushing you until after lunch to put you down for your nap, you just can't seem to make it more than 3 hours in the morning.

8. You are a very quick learner, just like mommy! I can say what something is one or two times and you know exactly what it is from then on

9. We think you got mommy's growing pains, YUK!!

10. You absolutely thrive on being around other kids, whether your age or older, you absolutely love being around them and other people in general!!

Caleb, we love you so much and can't believe how big you are getting!! You truly are growing in to your own personality and it's so fun to sit back and watch as it happens! We love you so very very much and thank the Lord for you each and every day!!! Happy 16 month birthday honey!!

























Be Blessed and Encouraged!!

April No Eat Out Month Finale

So, as you can see I feel behind with my weekly updates on our new eat out month in April. Stink! I really wanted to follow through and complete those last two posts so that whomever actually reads this blog would have a couple more simple but delicious recipes. So sorry!

Anyway, just to document, we finished strong!! We went over our grocery budget for the month, but I'm happy to report that we only "gave in" one single night ALL month! We had dinner plans change at the last minute one night and that mixed in with me being ridiculously sick and not wanting to cook, we ordered a single pizza and paid $10.00. Totally worth it at that point though.

Overall, I cooked 20 meals, and we spent a little over $400. I have to say, I'm pretty proud of us, this was a HUGE accomplishment since we're the type of people who eat out becuase of convenience.

So, there you have it!

Be Blessed and Encouraged!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Worry Wart

I worry. I worry about finances. I worry about health. I worry about my family. My friends. I worry about my future. I worry about Caleb. I worry about this pregnancy. I worry about safety. I worry about the salvation of my children. Not all the time, but I find that when I worry the most is when I have not been consistent with my time in the Word or in prayer.

Wikipedia states that "worry" is: the state of engaging in chains of thoughts and images of a negative and uncontrollable nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats. As an emotion, it is experienced as anxiety or concerned about a real or imagined issue.

Worry is an easy thing to experience these days. I'm not going to go into some political debate in blogworld, but I think we can all admit, that at some point in time, we worry about someone, something, or a potential situation. It's what we do with that feeling and emotion of worry that matters.

So,that's why today, I am choosing not to worry. I'm choosing to trust in the commands and promises in Matthew 6:25-34, knowing that the Lord knows my every need, knows the number of hairs on my head, knows all of my days before they ever came to be. It's A LOT easier said than done, but becuase my faith and trust is in a holy and loving God, I have no reason to fear or worry.

25"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
28And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field gorw; they do not toil nor do they spin,
29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himslef like one of these.
30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
31Do not worry then, saying 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'
32For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow wil care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Philippians 4:6 also says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Thank you Lord, for your promises. Thank you for life. Thank you for a joy that can only be experienced when we put our trust in you. Thank you for extending grace when I lose sight of your promises, and thank you ultimately for your Son.

Be Blessed and Encouraged!