Happy Monday

Hey There. Thanks so much for all your well wishes/prayers for my pregnancy. We are very excited! Nothing matches watching my husband’s excitement when I told him we were expecting. It was beautiful!

We like to keep things moving around here. You know, stay on our toes. Not promote idleness in our lives. So, right now the major things on our plate are finishing the last semester of college, first trimester of pregnancy, oh yeah and moving. That’s right at the end of this month we’re moving. WE’RE MOVING! Ahhhhh. This is very exciting. So, I’d like to solicite packing advice from all you innovative Proverbs 31 ladies out there. Any tips on moving? Any tips on moving with little guys running inbetween your legs while you’re packing? (Advice that would encourage me not to throw all the toys away would be helpful. They wouldn’t like that, although it’s very tempting Evil Smile)
Hope you all are having a happy Monday! Here’s to keeping things busy!

Sleepy Land

Hey y’all.  Incase anyone has wondered where I’ve been, I’ll let you know.  I’ve been tired.  It’s that place that pregnant women wander off into for the first 3 months, and last month of their pregnancies.  Then, it’s that strange place they exist for the ensuing months after baby.  So, that’s the news.  I’m happily carrying a new life inside my body.  I think it’s just amazing that although you can’t tell by looking at me, the Lord is knitting a tiny person together in my belly.  A wonderful new addition to our family, Lord willing will be coming in October.  Amazing!!!!  It seems to get more amazing the more times the Lord blesses us.  It’s just a miracle.  Now, I’m off to bed to try to catch up on sleep.

V-Day

I’m blessed this year with 3 of the most handsome, loving Valentines! My awesome husband Ryan leads the pack and allows the other 2 Valentines privileges with their momma. The big guy and the little guy made me cards this morning. Big guy’s had a picture of yours truly on it, with a big S. The little guy drew me a picture of something near and dear to his heart…french fries. So, I’m well loved over here. We enjoyed a lovely gourmet lunch at the golden arches with my mother in law and recently adopted sister and all our little guys. Now, everyone is down for naps and momma is going to rest also. The plan for the rest of the afternoon is to get some good play time outside so the boys will actually go to sleep tonight. We’ll make homemade pizza, with a heart made of pepperonis on it. I thought we’d make cupcakes too but we’ll see how much I can handle. I might run to the store as well and pick up some chocolate. Chocolate just makes everyday special! Hope you all enjoy what the Lord has blessed you with this year, knowing that He first loved us and gave Himself for us. That’s the most important love and should be celebrated ALL year long. Cheers!

Pouring on the Love

Good morning Y’all! Happy Monday. This week, I am praying that the Lord would help me to be happy, cheerful, kind and loving towards my kiddos. I have been too hard on them and need to make a concerted effort to pour on the love. Not love without loving correction, but definitely way more love! Can I do this on my own, by pulling up my bootstraps and really digging in? Absolutely not! The Lord alone can give me the grace to walk in His Spirit. Does that mean I’m not going to have to work to fight my ever present flesh? Absolutely not! So, I pray that the Lord would help me to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE and when I don’t that He’ll enable me to repent and trust in His forgiveness. That He’ll enable me to look forward and not back at my failures. So, if you know me in real life ask me how it’s going because I so easily forget me goals. Have a great week in Him.

Prayerless-ness

I’d like to share a quote from Jim Eliff that I read today in a handout I picked up at church a few weeks ago. The article is in a newsletter called, Around the FIRE.

“Do you feel your need to pray? A person who has no need to pray cannot be living by faith. Prayerless-ness says, ‘I am sufficient in myself for everything required of me.’”

Ok, Stephanie. Let it sink in. Yes, I need to pray. I know this. But am I doing it? Am I crying out to him moment by moment, thought by thought? When the patience is waining, am I pleading for His patience? When by body is not working like it should, but I can’t stop caring for my family, am I crying out for His strength? When forgiveness must be given, but I want to hold on to the pain, am I begging Him to make me like Him? Honestly, most of the time I’m not. I try on my own to make it work out and then I fail. I exhaust my resources and then wallow in despair - when the One who can fill me stands waiting. He’s not waiting because He has to wait for me to make the first move. His hands are not tied. Yet He waits. He wants me to see my need for Him. That my well is empty and His is overflowing with exactly what I need. His supply is endless and mine is non-existent without His grace. So, why don’t I look to Him? Why don’t I ask?

Lord, please teach me to look to You. Teach me to turn my head to You, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. The One who formed me and gives me breath and strength. Father, make it natural for me to whisper prayers of dependence upon You all day and night. I want Your light burden for mine is too heavy!

Profound Thoughts from ME

There was something profound that I wanted to write today.  I think it came to me between Target and Vons.  But you know what, I can’t remember.  Mommy Amnesia hits hard these days.  My thoughts just vanish.  Things that I’ve always known and never forgot are gone, like my pin number for my ATM.  Now that one is embarrassing.  So, when it comes to me and I have the time I will unleash my profundity to you all.  Until then, I wouldn’t hold your breath.