Look Who is 3 Months Old

Today my Baby girl is 3 months old. In 3 short months, she has changed my life. I am eternally grateful to be her mother and her brothers love to be right beside her. She has melted our hearts. She already has Daddy wrapped around her fingers. He can always get a smile out of her. It drives me nuts!

Mary-Elizabeth loves sucking her fingers, the fan moving, and being the center of attention. She is sleeping well at night and is slowly letting the fussy stage go away! She weights 17 pounds and is 24 inches tall.

Last weekend we moved her to her own room. She slept great, but Mommy and Daddy sure did miss her little noises.

She recently wore her first pair of jeans with ruffles. Oh, so cute! We love dressing her up.

Stephen loves playing with her!

I'm not screaming, I'm making a joyful noise unto God!

Seriously another picture.

Happy Girl!

My Dad

Recently, Kaleb was given an assignment to do a character sketch on a family member. I would like to share with you what he wrote.

Hello I'm Kaleb and I'm going to tell you about my Dad. My Dad use to run an ice cream store, but they went bankrupt. Now he's in the military and I am happy my Dad serves our country. My Dad and I love sweets his favorite is snickers. He taught me how to play baseball. He started me on drinking cofee Mmmm. My Dad has gotten a lot of awards. (and from me good looking awards!) I am proud of my Dad. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. My Dad is tall and skinny. He has a wonderful smile. He also has blue eyes. PS. Go Daddy Go

[I typed this directly from his paper.]

Joshua was also given an assignment: "List 4 things your mother or father does for you."

My dad prays with me. My dad helps me. My dad will play.

It might not be 4 things, but it along with Kaleb's sketch spoke volumes. His children will rise and call him blessed. I am so thankful to have a loving father for my children.

Wordless Wednesday

A Walk of Faith

Lately, I have been floating through this world. I go from point A to point B and not realize the blessings that God has given me. I don't give Him the praise He deserves. All of the sudden, God opened my eyes to see the enormous amount of prayers that has been answered. Some prayers I don't think I uttered with my lips, but with my deepest longings of my heart.

Recently, I found a pearl earring in my couch. Not a big deal until you realize that I lost it 4 years ago. Since then, we have moved 3 times. God knew my heart was wanting my earring and He blessed me unexpectedly.

Another answered prayer was baby blankets. Inside my heart, I wondered how I could have sweet, girly baby blankets for Mary-Elizabeth. I have several boy blankets, but I wanted girly ones too! I knew our budget could not replace all the boys things. God knew that too! He put it on the hearts of several women and I received 6+ blankets for Mary-Elizabeth that were homemade with love and prayer. I also received several other beautiful, girly blankets. God gave me more than I ever anticipated.

Answered prayers are all around me. I see God working through my children, through my husband, through my church and through me. I see him healing relationships. I see him floating our family on a slim budget. I see Him doing amazing things all around me.

However, I still live in fear. God is asking my family to walk out on the water and stay afloat by faith. We are at a cross roads of huge proportions. I must trust God and not man. I must affirm my faith in the one true God by believing in Him.

Mark is separating from the military in a few months. In less than 5 months, Mark is going to need another job...we are going to need another house...we are going to change our world. We will no longer be apart of the military forces..we will be civilians. This is somewhat scary--I mean real scary. The part that gets me on my knees is not having a paycheck or any direction of where to go. All I know through God's confirmation is that Mark should separate. The rest I must leave at the foot of Jesus.

Trusting God with my finances and physical future is a wild ride for me, but one that is even more wild is trusting God with the size of my family. Mark and I are learning how to trust God completely in this area. God is asking me to have faith that He knows what is best for each of our children-born and unborn, for Mark and for myself. One thing I have learned in having more children is that I can do less on my strength and need more of Him. Maybe that is the point of faith--total dependence on God.

So, as I walk out in the unknown, I must believe in God. I must trust His Sovereign plan. I must believe God to be huge in all circumstances. I must die to my selfish desires and live for the One and Only.

In believing in God, I must remember who He is. In order to remember who He is, I must remember what He has done for me in good times and bad times. Through those moments in time, my faith has expanded. With my expanded faith, I shall praise Him more. He alone is my rock, my shelter and my foundation...in Him who shall I trust?

So, today I choose to walk by faith in the One who created me...the One who loves me...the One who gave up His life for me...the One and Only.

Micah Allen

Last month, Micah turned 2 years old. I love the age of 2. He is learning new things everyday. I am so pleased that God saw fit for us to raise Micah Allen. Micah has a great personality and it normally comes out in pictures. I thought in celebrating his 2nd Birthday I would take a look back!

Wordless Wednesday

Walking Through It

Three years ago today, I gave birth to a sweet baby at 18 weeks gestation. He was part of twins--we lost the first one at 8 weeks gestation. To me, my family and friends these were not fetuses--they were babies lost. They were dreams destroyed. They were love unshared. They were hope given. They were faith reborn.

I didn't understand God's plan for us at that time...yet I trusted Him completely. I couldn't breathe at times...yet I trusted Him to breathe for me. I couldn't cry at times. I couldn't love at times. I was a mess. I missed and grieved at the chance to hold my sweet boys and to train them.

Mark and I had the privilege to name our sweet boys. The first one was Zechariah Isaiah. The next one we named Hezekiah Tom Thumb. We never were able to meet Zechariah. Yet, he provided hope for us to keep his brother alive. We worked hard the next 10 weeks to protect baby Hezekiah, but God had a superior plan for Him. Unfortunately, it did not involve us having him here with us.

We lost Zechariah in the middle of the night. Fear gripped us as we drove silently to the hospital. Wondering what had happened to our precious baby led Mark and I into deep, silent prayer. Our eyes were elated and sadden to see two sacs on the ultrasound. One sac full of life the other sac empty. Zechariah gave us hope for the future and he encouraged us to take care of his brother.

We learned that Hezekiah had gone to be with his brother in Jesus's arms at a normal doctor's appointment. We were given a few days to think about the best way of delivering him. We had decided to do a D/C, but Hezekiah had other plans. Hezekiah was the only child born during a Dallas Cowboys football game. He was very small and special. If I had any doubt that God created life and that He knitted us together in our Mother's womb, I don't' anymore. I saw a perfectly formed body. All I could think and say after he was born was how beautiful he was.

During the next year, I learned valuable lessons. I learned to cherish my children as the gift they are. I learned that God was big enough to handle my grief and anger. I learned that God continues to give good gifts in the middle of crisis--I just had to look harder.

"But now, this is what the Lord says-He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...'"

Isaiah 43:1-3

During that time period of my life, God was very real as my Savior. He was my every breath and my every move. He gave me strength and encouraged me to continue on. He walked and carried me through every gut wrenching experience.

This October 15th is a day to pray and light a candle for all those who have suffered the loss of a pregnancy or infant. Please pray, send notes, light a candle. Let us cherish human life at any age.