Blabber Blabber

My husband sent me this email today. Funny stuff!

Why did he send me this video? Surely he doesn't think that all my meaningful chatter sounds like this...right? HA!

Happy Friday =)

Trust

I have a little devotional I read in the mornings that takes scripture and puts it into conversation. I really love doing this one in the mornings because it makes me think the rest of the morning while I'm getting ready. Here's one I did a few days ago that I really loved-

Come to Me with your plans held in abeyance. Worship me in spirit and in truth, allowing my Glory to permeate your entire being. Trust Me enough to let Me guide you through this day, accomplishing My purposes in My timing. Subordinate your myriad to My Master Plan. I am sovereign over every aspect of your life!

The challenge continually before you is to trust Me and search for My way through each day. Do not blindly follow your habitual routine, or you will miss what I have prepared for you. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

John 4:24; Isaiah 55:8-9

Jesus Calling

I really love that. So often I try to do things on my own and wonder why it's just not working out. That message really makes me want to trust Him more and more and more.

God's Promises are GOOD

In the past few weeks, God has really been working a miracle in my heart. Throughout my struggle of trying for a baby, I have felt more emotions than I really even knew I had. I was angry at God, bitter with people who had babies, depressed when I saw a sweet newborn, and the list goes on and on. People would always tell me "God's timing is perfect" or things of that nature and I would literally want to punch them in the face. I knew they were trying to encourage me but I didn't want to hear it. I wanted them to feel my pain. Not a good place to be.

But God is good and He's healing my heart.

I started looking at other areas of my life and how INCREDIBLY faithful my God is. Changing colleges my sophomore year was tough but God was faithful and blessed me with amazing friends and a Godly husband. Moving to Texas was THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE but God continues to pour out His blessings for my obedience. Our life here is beyond blessed. When I look at these things, I'm amazed at His faithfulness. And guess what? He's being faithful to me as I type this.

I was doing my devotional a few nights ago and it asked me to reflect on Isaiah 53. I never made it to chapter 53 because 54 jumped off the page at me. This is how The Message states it-

1-6 Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth! You're ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women. "God says so!" Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep. You're going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family. You're going to take over whole nations; you're going to resettle abandoned cities.

Pretty incredible right? After I read that, I looked at scripture references to it and found this-

Tell me now, you who have become so enamored with the law: Have you paid close attention to that law? Abraham, remember, had two sons: one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. The son of the slave woman was born by human connivance; the son of the free woman was born by God's promise. Galatians 4:24

When I read this I was reminded of God's promise to Sarah and that His promise for me is GOOD. Then His Word led me to this-

Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full. The childless woman now has seven children, and the woman with many children wastes away. 1 Samuel 2:5

AMAZING stuff! Why would I NOT put my trust in such a faithful God? I can't find a reason either.

Sorry this is super long but God put this on my heart and I just wanted to share it. Hope it blesses you where you're at.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Ah! I did it! I cut it all off! Here's some before and after pics.

Here's before...long, long, long...

From the back.

9 inches later...short and sassy! I love it! It was a crazy day. The original plan was to go to the Bartonville Health Fair, chop it all off for FREE, and then run to get a highlight from a friend of mine's hairstylist. I called the Health Fair the day before and they were only giving a cut and not layering, razoring, etc. I decided that wasn't for me. So I made a last minute apointment with ANOTHER hairstylist in the morning....craziness. My morning went like this-wash hair, 8 am hair cut, wash hair, come home, 1 pm highlight, wash hair, come home, wash hair, play with the new do! My hair was washed FOUR TIMES! It was nuts but it's over and now my hair is sassy and the hair that's gone is going to make a fancy wig for a sweet child dying to have some hair of her own.

PRETTY COOL.

Hairy Situation

I told you blogging would dwindle when the swine flu left! I'm trying here!

Saturday is the big day...hair donation day! I'm going to get it ALL chopped. I'm SO nervous and a little bit excited. This long hair business is too hot for summer. Here's a few pic ideas

I've asked Chris a million times which one he likes and he doesn't care as long as I'm blonde(er). I haven't been able to put any bleach products in my hair because of the donation and Chris prefers it blonde. Lucky him, I'm ready for a change. I'll post pics on Saturday after the big event. Wish me luck!

Baseball Boo Boo

Tonight was suppose to be a relaxing night with my friend Lindsey enjoying pizza and the awesomeness that is "The Office." Sounds fun right? It didn't happen. The afternoon went pretty similar to every other afternoon-walk in the door, hang up my keys, let Dallas out, get a phone call from my husband who got hit in the head with a BASEBALL at practice!!!! I of course did my wifey duties by asking if everything's okay and what I needed to do and he said he was ok-he was coming home from practice. The trainer had iced him up and he thought he was a-ok. He came home and was in some pretty serious pain. Chris turned his head in time to take a line drive behind his right ear at the bottom part of his head/neck. My theory is-never trust a head injury. You hear scary stories all the time about people getting hit in the head and later dying from brain trauma. Needless to say, we went to the ER. Not a fun place to be. I have the WEAKEST stomach in the world so I was a basket case most of the time. A girl was wheeled in throwing up everywhere, unable to stand. I guy came in with a blood soaked bandage and blood running down his arms. YUCK-O. Anyhow, they got us in pretty quickly, asked a thousand questions, iced it up, and did a cat scan. NO BRAIN INJURY! They sent him home with pain killers and muscle relaxers to keep him comfortable. I think next time he'll use the L screen properly!

Here's some pics for proof-

It's hard to see here but there's quite a bit of swelling.

Just wait until it starts to bruise! Just really red and swollen right now.

Poppin the muscle relaxers and pain killers. This tough guy wanted to try to go to work tomorrow. I didn't think that was such a good idea on HydroCodine!

I'll keep you posted on Coach's injury!

Randomness

Here's my random thoughts for the day-

1. Boo Swine Flu! It looks like our "Swine Flu Stay-cation '09" is coming to an early close. We were suppose to be off until May 11 to prevent the spread of the flu but now we're reporting back tomorrow. Apparently our districts thought it was a little ridiculous paying us to sit at home all day when this illness isn't really looking as bad as originally thought. I knew it was a little too good to be true. Oh well. I did get my master bathroom painted, house clean, and Chris did some work on the garage. It was definitely fabulous while it lasted.

2. I just mentioned it above but our master bathroom is finally painted! I LOVE to paint my house but I'm terrible at all that it entails. I spend a good 45 minutes in the paint aisle deciding between 15 shades that I know would be perfect. Then I get home, open the can, start spreading it on the wall, and I hate it. NEVER FAILS! I tell myself I need to paint the whole room because it's impossible to tell if I like it or not by a few strokes on the wall. And guess what? I LOVE IT! Our master bedroom is a dark gray/tan and I wanted our bathroom to be the same color but lighter since it's such a small space. I went 2 shades lighter and PERFECTION.

3. My goodness May is busy! My dad's birthday was this week, Mother's Day is Sunday, and my sister's birthday is the 17th. I'm terrible at buying gifts on time, especially since we live so far away from my family now. Looks like I need to go shopping!

I think that's about all my super exciting-stay at home-life has to offer right now. I'm sure it's going to get much more thrilling now that I'm going back to school tomorrow...

Overcome

We sing this song at our church and I just wanted to share it and hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed me. It's a reminder to me that my struggles are MINOR compared to what Jesus went through. And the glory of it all-HE OVERCAME!

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love

Destined to die, poured out for all mankind

God's only son perfect and spotless one

He never sinned, but suffered as if he did

All authority, every victory is Yours

All authority, every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise,

You overcame

Jesus, awesome in power forever,awesome and great is Your name,

You overcame

Power in hand speaking th Father's plan

You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb

and the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Show Us Where You Live

I've been following http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/ and she started "Show Us Where You Live Friday." This week everyone's showing off their kitchens. Even though I'm a few days late, I thought I'd join in the fun!

We were so excited to have dark cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

We love having our kitchen open up to the living room, especially when we have guests. It's great to be able to talk to everyone in the living room while I'm cooking or cleaning.

Breakfast area/kitchen.

One of my favorite wedding gifts.

What kitchen is complete without an "Office" calendar on the fridge? LOVE IT!

Breakfast table. To the right of the table on the floor are the FABULOUS Southern Living dog bowls that I spent entirely too much money on but love SO much. Sweet Dallas eats in style =)

Thanks for checking out our kitchen. Next week....LIVING ROOMS!

Counting On God

I'm in a fight not physical

And I'm in a war

But not with this world

You are the light that's beautiful

And I want more

I want all that's Yours

Joy unspeakable that won't go away

And just enough strength To live for today

So I never have to worry

What tomorrow will bring

Cause my faith is on solid rock

I am counting on God

That makes me really, really happy.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6

2 posts in one day and a Fabulous K plead.

I obviously have too much time on my hands today. Between swine flu and rain I've been in doors most of the day feeding my internet addiction. And baby addiction. Is this what all infertile women do on their days off? Sit on the couch and surf through all the adorable baby things you're dying to buy but have no baby to buy for?? Maybe it's just me. It actually didn't start that way...I started surfing blogs of friends, which turned into surfing blogs of people with babies, which turned into shopping for baby stuff on Etsy without a baby to shop for. I promise I'm not throwing a pity party-my trust is in the Lord and I know His timing is perfect. I'm clinging to Ephesians 3:20-Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (The Message) But during this waiting period, I'll search through Etsy and pray for my future baby...I just wish I knew if it was a boy or girl so I could start shopping already!!!

If it is a girl, I promise to buy her these ADORABLE bows and she will wear them EVERY DAY.

And if I have a boy he will be ADORABLE in this cute little beanie. I love them on baby boys!

And Fabulous K...I really, REALLY need a blog makeover....PLEASE!!!!!

Gotta get away!

This is the first summer that Chris and I will have off together. The original summer plan was to deal with our infertility issues and spending time at our reproductive endocronoligist's office. Since our miscarriage and the Lord closing the door on IVF, we're taking that money and time and going on VACATIONS! We're so excited. Having family in different cities it seems like most of travel time is to St. Louis or Alabama. The week we get out of school we are going to San Francisco. We had a free Southwest ticket and it was the surprise 50% off destination so we are flying there for a ridiculously low price. Our hotel is within walking distance of everything. As a product of the 80's, I am most excited to see this-

Shoo-b-doo-wah-bah-dah! FULL HOUSE! LOVED that show and I'm so excited to see the "Painted Ladies" in all their glory. We're also going to go to Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatrez, and hopefully check out an Oakland A's game (the Giants are out of town). So much fun!

The weekend we get back from San Francisco, we're going to a Coach's Retreat in New Braunfels. It will be nice to be around other coaches and their wives. It can be tough being married to a coach so it will be nice to learn from each other on how to better love our spouses and how to be supportive of their job/ministry.

After that we're headed to FT. LAUDERDALE! After getting out of school, San Francisco, and the coach's retreat, I don't want to get off the beach ALL DAY! Here are a few pics of our resort-

Then, of course, we'll head to STL. We booked this trip so we could be there for the 4th of July and celebrate with friends, family, and some fire works. Can't wait to see everyone!

You know that saying "When God closes one door, he opens another"? Isn't that the truth! After he closed the door on IVF, we were blessed with HUGE vacation opportunities to spend time together before we do become pregnant and our lives are forever changed. This may be the only time that we will be able to travel like this alone and we're thankful for it.

All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

Psalms 25:10

Swine Flu Crazy

I'm sure everyone's super tired of hearing about this "swine flu" business but what in the world??? There has been one confirmed case in my district and at the end of the day today, they made the decision to close for a week. We will not need to make up the days missed which will leave us at 4 weeks until the end of the year. Chris' district has 2 probable cases and they are yet to close. I'm sure once the cases are confirmed, his district will also shut down. I understand being cautious (my room has been Lysol-ed and my kids are GermX-ed) but closing down entire districts is a little extreme! It's looking like this will be one of those things you watch on "I Love the insert year" on VH1 like mad cow disease or bird flu. We'll look back and think "remember that time everyone that they were going to die over this crazy flu?" Until then, I'll try to remain quarantined in my house with Oprah, Ellen, and Regis and Kelly. I also won't be doing this-

Stay healthy!