Week 9 : green olive

since my last post some things have changed... really just my due date... July 27th which means i was not as far along as the doctors originally thought.

Today i started week 9... and i can't wait to get through this first trimester, hoping that all this morning sickness will go away!! please

Baby #3 is the size of a green olive

These are from a couple of weeks ago : 12/6/2010

doesn't look like much at this point

This week: 

Baby's now the size of a green olive!Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like...well...a baby!

Week 7 : blueberry

what's new this week....

well, saturday i started experiencing some nauseousness. something i never experienced with either one of the girls. i didn't think much of it because once i ate something it seemed to go away. yesterday however it seemed to last most of the day... as well as today. i've been able to stomach a peanut butter sandwich and some crackers. all i can say is at least i haven't been throwing up.  cross your fingers and say a prayer that i don't start now!!!

Week 7

this is probably the most unflattering picture of me... uggg

i look more like i'm 4 or 5 months pregnant

even though this is my 3rd baby i still feel as if it's my first. the first two weeks after finding out was a little nerve racking b/c i just didn't know how everyone was going to take the news.  but now i'm just so excited about bringing another little one into our loving home.  madison is super excited and although i know emma has no clue what's going on i know she will love the new baby too.  in a week i will have my first ultrasound and it can't get here any quicker... i'm just so excited!!!

madison pretending to have a baby in her belly!

I'd say she's excited!!

So here's what's up with our Little Blueberry

Baby's brain -- both hemispheres! -- is growing fast, generating about one hundred new cells every minute. Arms and legs are emerging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third!) is now in place.

information from theBump

The Chinese Gender Chart

YEP!!! You guessed it

we are expecting

Baby #3

Due July 17, 2011

is it a fable or truth? we'll have to wait and see.

well just the thought of a boy makes me excited. :)

but another little girls would be GREAT too!!  i just want a healthy baby

according to the calendar i'm 6 wks today
(i really think i'm only 5wks but we will have to wait until the ultrasound to be certain)

according to The Bump #3 is 

The Size of a Sweet Pea

Growing like crazy, baby is starting to sprout eyes, ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. Those little hands and feet -- still webbed like paddles -- might wiggle by week's end, the heart is beating (almost twice as fast as yours!), and blood is starting to circulate.

Twelve Audacious Faith Confessions

From Pastor Steven Furtick's Book Sun Stand Still 

"There are going to be many points along the way when you're not going to have anyone around to motivate you or encourage you. And in those moments you'd better be able to open God's Word, look in the mirror, and remind yourself of the truth."

1. I am fully forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation.

2. I act in audacious faith to change the world in my generation

3. I have no fear or anxiety; I trust in the Lord with all my heart.

4. I am able to fulfill the calling God has placed on my life.

5. I am fully resourced to do everything God has called me to do.

6. I have no insecurity, because I see myself the way God sees me.

7. I am a faithful spouse and a godly parent - our family is blessed.

8. I am completely whole - physically, mentally, and emotionally.

9. I am increasing in influence and favor for the kingdom of God.

10. I am enabled to walk in the sacrificial love of Christ.

11. I have the wisdom of the Lord concerning every decision I make.

12. I am protected from all harm and evil in Jesus' name.

"How much difference would it make in our lives if we would preach these realities to ourselves?  Let's resolve now to preach God's Word in our own hearts daily, emphatically, convincingly!"

What I struggle With

Pastor Steven hit the nail on the head for me this morning. I always read his blog and today I knew he was talking to me. So here is what I read....

The Next Rep : by Pastor Steven Furtick

I am always worried about the future... 

....what will happen when i no longer have unemployment 

....how are we going to continue to provide for our family

....if we make certain decisions will we be doing the right thing, is it what God really wants for us!!

....and so on....

and so it was this part that really helped!!

"Being strong in the Lord is sometimes about just doing the next rep. Focusing on the next decision. Taking the next step. Making the next sacrifice."

in other words... don't think about months ahead.. or even years ahead... think about how will i make it through today... how will i let God change me today!!  

then i read...

Matthew 6:34 tells us “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

that's exactly what i needed to hear!! So i went straight to my Bible and read it there... and what I found was the best advice... DO NOT WORRY

Matthew 6: 25-34 

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

And here's the important part vs. 33 But seek FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Thank you Lord for today and for all that you have given me. Amen

10 years later

on Saturday, October 2, 2000 i lost my mom to a heart attack.  after 10 years i have finally let her go... i have stopped saying what if... no more tears because God robbed me of the most important person in my life...  God Saved Me!!  i'm no longer scared of death... i look forward to the day that i can see my mother again!!

This year i'm not going to mope around and feel sorry for myself, this year i'm going to a craft retreat with my aunt (my mom's sister), i'm going to have fun and enjoy my time with her.  And instead of thinking of Oct. 2 as the worst day in my life i'm going think of all the thing that i loved about my mom!!

i love you mom!!

the girls blog

well i've been behind on the girls blog post...

there is always so much to do :)

Check it out The Yancey Sisters

First Day of School

Elevation : Blakeney

Ahead of schedule

and we are so excited!!!

this is the new worship center :)

First Impressions

tonight was so nice! very informal, just sitting around the kitchen table getting to know each other.  I am so glad that God gave me the strength to start this group.

Karin and I 

Dress up + Dinner

and the girls... she has two girls Ella (4) Abby (2)

getting ready for my eGroup: Moms

here is my first post about my mom's eGroup

Moms of Faith : Ever Feel Like You Are In Mommy Solitary Confinement

i came across this blog post while reading my favorite blog on Moms of Faith and I can completely relate to what Robin is saying. Please take a moment to read it

Short story into my life:
my family moved to Belmont (charlotte area) 2 years ago because I was getting a transfer with my job, during this time I was pregnant with my second child.  Once we had moved and was still getting settled in, my company told me that once I had my second child they would no longer need me (due to economic times of course). I was FIRED!! i've never been fired!  It was so difficult, knowing that once I gave birth to my child I would loose my job. I guess I was lucky that they allowed me to continue to work and receive benefits until I had Emma.

The first 3 months after her birth weren't bad, I was busy, occupied with all the new born stuff. Around month four I started finding it difficult, becoming depressed.. something i have experienced a few times in my life. Alone all day with my two kids, all i wanted to do was sleep! After all it wasn't MY PLAN to be a stay-at-home-mom.

to make a long story short....

after a year, and still no job, I knew something HAD to change. I was searching for the light at the end of the tunnel, which i thought would be getting a job, but what I realized was that I needed to have a relationship with my Father, God, Jesus!!! That's the piece that was missing.

And after one visit to Elevation, I was reminded of His glory and His great things. And for the FIRST time since I lost my job I was at peace, knowing that He will provide for my family.

God has giving me the courage to leave the house, to attend Church on a regular basis, to be on an eTeam and to start this eGroup. His love for me has open my heart to many new opportunities and to trust in Him for he knows what's best for me.

I am NOT alone and neither are you!! Remember God is always with you and He always has a listening ear. He's a GREAT listener.

All things are possible though Jesus Christ!!

The Code

I will be starting a new adventure soon... and eGroup (which is a community group that i will be doing with my church) they are helping to prepare me for this new season in my life by providing lots of helpful tools, which i will sure to speak about later. one thing that they have asked us all to know is "The Code" and since i'm trying to memorize it i thought i'd share it with all my readers... all one of you LOL  (love you marty)

The Code is our core set of values at Elevation Church. It sets the tone and trajectory for how we get things done. If the mission is the compass, The Code is the map that gives us direction.

1. We Act in Audacious Faith – In order to dominate a city with the gospel of Jesus, we can’t think small. We will set impossible goals, take bold steps of faith and watch God move.
2. We Are a Generation of Honor – We freely give honor to those above us, beside us and under us because of the calling and potential God has placed inside of them.
3. We Lead the Way in Generosity – Our staff and church will go above and beyond to give sacrificially to the work of God in our city.
4. We Are United Under the Visionary – Elevation is built on the vision God gave Pastor Steven. We will aggressively defend our unity and his vision.
5. We Need Your Seat – We will not cater to personal preference in our mission to reach this city. We are more concerned with the people we are trying to reach than the people we are trying to keep.
6. We Think Inside the Box – We will embrace our limitations. They will inspire our greatest creativity and innovation.
7. We Dress for the Wedding – We will continually increase our capacity by structuring for where we want to go, not where we are. We will remain on the edge of our momentum by overreacting to harness strategic momentum initiatives.
8. We Are Ruth’s Chris, Not Golden Corral – Simplicity enables excellence. We place a disproportionate value on creating a worship experience that boldly celebrates Jesus and attracts people far from God.
9. We Are All About the Numbers – Tracking metrics measures effectiveness. We unapologetically set goals and measure progress through all available quantitative means.
10. We Eat the Fish and Leave the Bones – We will always maintain a posture of learning. We seek to learn from everyone and incorporate a variety of influences into our methodology.
11. We Are Known for What We Are For – We will speak vision and life over our people. We will lift up the salvation of Jesus rather than using our platform to condemn.
12. We Will Not Take This for Granted – What we are experiencing is not normal. This is the highest calling, and we will remain grateful for God’s hand of favor.

organizing my life.... part five, six and seven

part FIVE : coat two
part SIX : coat three
part SEVEN : moving the desk into place and starting to paint the inside of the drawers. which i'm so excited about b/c i'm going to paint each drawer a different color. since i'm the only one who will ever see the inside of the drawers :)

don't you just love the pop of green inside the drawer?

I DO so i don't care if you don't LOL

the paper i'm using for the top of the desk is scrapbook paper made by DCWV called The Green Stack 

i loved this paper so much that i am turning some of the pages into coasters to use at my desk! They are too cute  

there are five in all

organizing my life.... part four

part FOUR : first coat of paint

i've never painting any piece of furniture and i'm usually never this bold. so although i love it, it will take some time for me to get use to it.

and btw.... these pictures make it look really orange and it's really not

organizing my life.... part three_again

it rained and although i had the desk in the car port i decided that it was best to put the final color on inside.. it was just too humid out and the paint would never dry.

don't you LOVE the walls? i would love to either paint them or rip them down and replace with drywall.  drives me crazy :)

4 colors, you'll just have to wait to see what i do with the other three

don't you just love it?  i can't wait to get it all complete and see how pretty it is.... i might never be in the same room with vic again! :(

now i just need a GOOD office chair. right now i use the kitchen chair, which isn't that comfortable but will do for now..  i refuse to pay for such an expensive piece of furniture.

organizing my life.... part three

part THREE : Second Coat of Primer

note to self, when using oil based primer make sure you have paint thinner to remove the paint from your hands during clean up!!    sigh!!

it looks so much better than that black!!!

hopefully by tomorrow i'll be able to get my driveway back

next step : PAINTING  yeah!!

and a little sneak peak into the pattern i've chosen for the top of my desk!! and the color i'm going to paint the desk!! I'm so excited i can't even stand it.  plus i'm excited to get my house back in order, it seems like every room is a disaster!! 

organizing my life.... part two

Part TWO: First coat of primer

says it should take 1 hour to dry, well in this heat i think it took twenty mins. LOL

organizing my life... part one

well i posted on my facebook page yesterday "is in need of getting her life organized!! Someone wanna come do that for her?" i lost a VERY VERY important document and it made me realize just who unorganized my life REALLY is!!  SOOOO.....


it's time to get my life together and get back to ME!!!


Starting with taking my OFFICE back!!  


the office turned into emma's room when she was 5 months old and then it turned into the playroom once emma turned 14 months old and joined madison in her room.  but....


they never really play in there and with all the six chicks work i've been getting (and therefore taking over the kitchen table) it's time to take back my office.  


and of course i couldn't start that without a little design 


so i have this desk that was my mom's. i think she got it from her job once she got new furniture and she painted it white and then black. 

so this is my desk, don't you just love it?


of course i've taken off the legs (left side) and the drawers. and i've already sanded it, sorry i didn't take a picture before. i will add the coat of primer tomorrow :)


so, since i can't add any color to the walls (they are all wood walls) i will just have to spice it up with adding color to my desk.

so i was doing some research on what i wanted to do with this large desk and i was thinking decoupagecrazy right? and i came across this website called mod podge rocks which lead me to this desk from cupkateer.blospot.com  and i completely fell in love with this. of course my desk will be more colorful!! i can't live without color!!!

so what do you think??

stay tuned for the next phase of my organization!!

Graditude; Day 4, 5, 6 and 7

well yes i'm behind... go figure!

Gratitude; Day 7 : To be getting better

i am getting better and i have written a lot about this.  I am SO grateful to God for helping me to be better, to want to be better and to let go of my past.  i am really looking forward to our next series at church on Forgiveness.  hopefully it will help me with any unresolved issues.

my prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for showing me that there is a better way, that i can get better and I continue to be excited about the future.  I will continue to believe trust you and honor you!  thank you Lord for my salvation!! amen

Gratitude; Day 6 : our home

there has been a lot of sermons lately on God's plan for our lives. well let me tell you when vic and i moved to Belmont it was only temporary to live in this house that we are renting... WELL...... it's almost been two years.  and it's taken me a long time to be OK with living here.. not because there is anything wrong with this house, it's just because we would love to own our own home with more than one bathroom.  but now i understand there is a reason for this "season" of our lives.  and i really do like this home, although it may be small there is nothing wrong with it.  it makes family time fun.. well the girls really own this house. i only have my bedroom :) which i share with vic.  well one day i'll have a work room! one day! i understand that God has planned out my life.. from beginning to end. and i am going to work hard to align with God's plan.

my prayer
Thank you Lord for this house that you have provided for us! i am SO grateful to have a roof over my head.  i know that there are so many other people who do not have the many wonderful things that i have. I am grateful that you have provided this house for us for how ever long we need it. to be able to give a safe place for our children to grow up where we can love them and grow as a family.  i will always be grateful for this house, these walls, and this life.  Thank you oh might Lord, for you are great and greatly to be praised!!  amen

Gratitude; Day 5 : my marriage

i am very very very grateful for my marriage.  after watching my parents marriage i KNEW i wanted something better than that!! and although my marriage isn't perfect, it has it's up's and downs but i really think we have a good marriage.  our love is real!!

we are continuing to create a marriage where God comes first.  although Vic and I may be on different paths in our spiritual life we know that we can come together.  I truly believe that having God in our lives has made for a peaceful home, the day's where we may have yelled, thrown things or slammed doors are gone (for the most part) We as a couple are getting better, being a better husband and a better wife.  I truly believe that my faith in God has allowed me to be a better wife to Vic and working on myself and all my issues have have made me a better child of God.  it's a work in progress but i look towards the future.. forgetting the past and living in the moment.. b/c it's HERE and it's mine.  I tell my husband that i love him a million times a day... and he always says it too.  i don't believe you can say it too much.  i like to hear it :)

we will be starting some counseling in the future, not because anything is wrong but just because we believe that it can help us communication better.  i think the hardest thing for couples is communication and for me it's one of the things i want badly... good communication.  so finding out the best way to communicate with each other will make us a stronger unit.  we really work hard to make our marriage good.  we've only been married 8 years and i know a lot of marriages that fade after some time, but it truly is important to me and vic that we continue to have a strong marriage as the years go by.  I look forward to the future with my husband.

my prayer
thank you dear Lord for my marriage, a marriage that is rooted in faith. a marriage that will continue to grow because of our believe in you.  Lord please continue to bless our marriage... and we know that there will be ups and downs but as long as we have your hand on us and this commitment to one another we will continue to be strong.  amen

Gratitude; Day 4 : Emma

my sweet emma rose!!  i am truly blessed and honored to be her mother.  i was scared my entire pregnancy that i wasn't going to get her, to hold her or to love her and watch her grow.  i am a worry wart, as my family calls it. and therefore i worried my entire pregnancy that something tragic was going to happen. so of course when i had to have my gall bladder removed at 20 weeks that didn't make things any easier for me.  i honestly felt some relief the moment she was born and i heard her cry because i knew i was going to be able to hold her.  well that only lasted for a min... i'm a mom... i worry.. i worry about everything you can imagine!!  there's a big bad world out there.  but.....  i'm not that much of a worry wart anymore... b/c of my faith in Jesus Christ.

I love my emma and i am having so much fun watching her. she is so silly and dramatic.. she is almost 19 months old and loves to sing the itsy bitsy spider song.. and i mean loves!! she can't say it but she tries!  she loves her sissy and her daddy!!  in fact she just recently became very attached to me. she is my dare devil... so i'm sure the "worry wart" in me will come back soon.  i could go on and on about her.

my prayer
Lord thank you for blessing vic and i with our little emma rose, your child!  we will raise her to know you Lord, to have faith in you and to trust you with all her heart.  Please continue to guide us and to lead us to know the ways in which are right for her.  I am grateful to you for placing her in my heart to be able to love such a bright little girl. amen

Happy 4th of July!!

 
This is where we spent our 4th!!

US National Whitewater Center

picture from www.charlottecommunities.com

i will have to catch up tomorrow on my Gratitude's... it's the 4th and we celebrated with a fantastic fireworks show at the US National Whitewater Center.  it' was unbelievable, will want go go back soon and watch the people participating in all the various activities they have.  so if you are ever in the Charlotte NC area you really should stop by.. it's only $5 to park and free to walk around and observe.  it truly is amazing.

Graditude; Day 3 : Madison

Madison

we are silly playing around with my mac's photo booth

every time i hear this song by Martina McBride i think of madison. i believe that i was pregnant with her when this song came out and it always made me very emotional.

In My Daughter's Eyes : Martina McBride
In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes


In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes


And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about


It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes


In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

she's my first born.. need i say more. she is ME and she drives me crazy!! that's such a scary thought, but my mother claimed i would have one just like me. i won't wish that on either of my girls. LOL Having children make you realize who you are. i've gone though alot in the last five years and no matter what happens to me (my slumps) madison is always there, she will always be my daughter. I am honored that God gave her too me.. she is a beautiful gift!! i love when she looks into my eyes and pulls my hair. she's so big now, it's difficult for me to continue to rock her in the glider (not to mention she won't sit still)

I am grateful for her b/c she makes me want to be better, she makes me work really HARD but it's all worth it. Madison and I've had a difficult two days, so it's probably a good thing that i have to right down why i am grateful for her. she tests my patients everyday!! I am grateful for her kind heart, she has these moments when she's cuddling with me when she looks and me with so much love and i don't want it to end. i am grateful to be able to have the opportunity to have children. there are so many women who want children so badly and here i am complaining on days b/c i can't deal with her. But I couldn't LIVE without her.. i can't image my life without my talkative, outgoing, little 5 year old with blond curly hair and blue eyes.

I always knew that i wanted to be a mother and i get to have that opportunity to do that everyday. some days i stress about NOT having a job, a paying job, but i do believe that being at home with my girls is the place i'm suppose to be right now. maybe he'll change that later but i'm trying to embrace my role as a stay at home mom and being a good one at that. learning how to be a Godly mother and teach madison and emma about God.

I am grateful for my madison for one main reason.... she's mine (even though i know she's only on loan to me while here on earth) i will always be grateful that she is apart of my life and i love her so much. parenting is not an easy job, but i believe love is. it's easy to fall in love with madison, from the moment i first felt her kick, till i saw her on the ultrasound, till she was laying on my belly only moments after she was born, and now i look forward to all the NEXT moments (memories) that i will cherish and be grateful because she is making my life better. I look forward to every one of her birthdays b/c i know that i've had one more year with her... to watch her change and grow. it goes by so quickly and at any moment if it's is God's will for her, she can be taken from me.

my prayer
Lord, I pray that i continue to be grateful for Madison, and be delighting in the little things that she does.  I promise to raise her to know you and to trust you with all her heart. I promise to show her how to be a Godly wife, mother and person. I promise to continue to pray for her and with her. I know that you have a plan for her life and I promise to help guide her with the knowledge that the Bible offers. Thank you Lord for Madison, my beautiful, health, happy little girl. You are an Awesome God!!

Graditude; Day 2 : Vic

 VIC
there is so much i can say! Vic is such a wonderful husband (even though he drives me crazy sometimes).  he was there for me at the most difficult time in my life, the loss of my mother. Vic and i hadn't been together a year when she passed away, and he was amazing!!  he is my biggest supporter, he puts up with me, and he loves me! i could go on forever about "our story" but you can read about that yourself in "Our Life", one of my first blog entry's.  i am SOOO grateful for his love, support and understanding. i'm not sure that anyone else could have stood by me while i have suffered with depression over the last 10 years. he is a great father (even if he lacks patience with the girls).  I am so proud to call him my husband.  and if you'd have asked me in high school what i thought about vic, i probably have told you he was quiet and a nice guy.  WOW he's come a long way. I truly enjoy being on this journey with him... my BEST friend, my partner in crime!  i love the laugh with him, i'm comforted when i cry and he reassures me that i'm a good mom.

things we love to do together...
drive around and look at houses (dreaming)
playing with the girls... making them laugh and be silly
watching movies
and being silly

my favorite part of the day is bed time, he always stays up with me although he shouldn't.. just like now i'm watching him across from me and i know he is waiting for me to tell him i'm ready to go to bed. we love to lay in bed and talk.  it's when the house is quiet, no screaming children and no tv.  sometimes he falls asleep while i'm talking, but that's ok i'll forgive him. b/c i love him... i love him being there!


it's hard to believe that we've been together for almost 11 years... craziness!!
i look forward to growing old with him... i hope i get that chance! to watch our girls grow and create families of there own. i look forward to more tradition, memories and lots and lots of laughs.


we were friends first and i know we will forever be friends.

I love you Vic Yancey  "vicaffer"

My Prayer:
Lord, thank you for showing me love!  true love!!  once in a life time love!  you've have blessed me with this wonderful man who i know will one day truly be a Godly man.  I look forward to watching him grow and transform while he learns more about you.  I am so grateful for Vic, whom you have given to me. thank you for continuing to bless me! Amen

Graditude; Day 1 : My family

grat·i·tude [grat-i-tood, -tyood]

–noun

the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful: He expressed his gratitude to everyone on the staff.

Dictionary. com 

MY FAMILY 

when i think of family i not only think of my immediate family of Vic, Madison and Emma, but i think of my extended family. growing up family was a big thing for me.. we were a tight family. But, in some ways it's strange b/c when i say family i think of My Grandparents (Marvin and Edith Purvis) my Mom, and the Walden's (Marty, Tim, Rachel, Joshua, Stephanie and Martin).   the reason i say that it is strange is because there are a lot of people in my "family" that i just don't include... like my father for one.  These people that i mention before as my "family" are those that I spent EVERY holiday, birthday, Sunday and random days with throughout my childhood.  Family means SO much to me... the idea of family means so much to me.  When Vic and I got married i felt like I finally had my OWN FAMILY, but i was once told that it wasn't a real family until we had children... well it was a family to me... do pets count LOL.  

now that i have a "real" family of my own, holiday's, birthdays, Sunday's and random days just aren't to same.  not bad, not great, just not the same.  but i am grateful for them all the same.  well this is starting to sound depressing :(  I guess what i am getting at is that i've always had this idea in my head of what the perfect family looked like... it's was those days from my childhood that i spend with my family.. where i felt loved, wanted and supported. and although those days are gone i am grateful for the NEW FAMILY that i have and the NEW traditions that we are making.  

like eating dinner together every night.  that is one thing that my parents and i did has a family as well. and we talked about our days. (i can only remember those after i was about 10) And, with two little one's it's difficult to have a conversations about our day but we have fun watching emma try to eat with a spoon or fork and sometimes it's difficult to get Madison to eat her food, but i love it all the same. i look forward to "family time".  when vic's home from work and we can sit down together (where Vic get's to feed emma, YEAH) sometimes meals aren't pleasant, there is food thrown or spilled milk but this is my life and i love it.

bed time is my favorite because vic and i tuck the girls in together at night. we rock, we read and we sing (well i sing) and they LOVE IT.  

My Prayer:

Lord, thank you for this family that you have given me. For Vic, who challenges me, supports me and sometimes is the only one who will put up with me. Lord, thank you for allowing me to have children because they are such a blessing. I AM grateful for this family that you have given me... this simple life! I will cherish and honor you by continuing to do your work in and through them.  Amen

30 day's of Gratitude

Well it's July 1st and Vic and I are starting our 30 days of gratitude challenge. If you don't know what i'm talking about then you need to catch up on reading my blog LOL.  here's the post on Gratitude

Who knew that figuring 30 things that you are grateful for would be so difficult. but here they are.. and i'm going to try and do my best to write about them every night. 


    Jen's List
1. My Family
2. Vic
3. Madison
4. Emma
5. My marriage
6. Our home
7. to be getting better
8. Bemont
9. New opportunities
10. the things we have
11. Vic's Job
12. To be a SAHM
13. Elevation
14. Six Chicks Designs
15. antidepressants
16. Marty
17. The Walden's
18. The Yancey's
19. Support
20. For my mother
21. For my father
22. Life
23. that my children are healthy
24. Michelle
25. Suzy
26. Cayce
27. New friendship
28. Kelly Hanes
29. Renewed love for christen music
30. Technology

What are you grateful for? I want to challenge you do follow a long with us and write down 30 things that you are grateful for! Can you do it?

Unstoppable Week #3 When the Church Comes Together

Unstoppable Week #3



I want everyone who reads my blog to watch this sermon... it was truely amazing!!

 Series Info:
"We love to see lives changed by Jesus, whether it’s happening here at Elevation or anywhere else. This series we’re partnering with other churches across the city to show what a move of God looks like under a unified vision – what it looks like when the Church comes together. Because when the Church stands together, it's unstoppable."

We had another great guest Pastor this Sunday. From Renovatus Church here in Charlotte, Pastor Jonathan Martin.

These are my notes and some of them may not make sense but they are things I thought was important of something I wanted to look into further.



He talked about The Christ Haunted South and how "we" southerners are in your face about Christ.

Mistakes were Made and we are so bad at owning up to them.

Butt Prints in the Sand : Author Unknown

One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there were seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.

But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
"But Lord they are too big for feet."

"My child," He said in somber tones,
"For miles I carried you along.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait."

"You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
and there I dropped you on your butt."

"Because in life, there comes a time,
when one must fight, and one must climb.
When one must rise and take a stand,
or leave their butt prints in the sand."

Psalm 106 vs. 24 (NSRV)
Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.

1. God's idea of "pleasant land" might be different than yours

2. the land does not have to be challenge-free or conflict-free in order for it to be "pleasant"
          * if it is good land it will be worth fighting for.
          * do you wish sometimes there was a "reset" button
          * every time God brings you through one conflict there will be another one on the other side
             of the mountain. but if you have the hand of God you can get through it.

3. just because you work (or grumble) against God's purposes out of fear and not out of malice doesn't   mean it's not disobedience.
          * if you have yet to learn how to be grateful there is no way we can move forward.
          * there is no chance of scenery that can change that
          * to allow the Holy Spirit to change us
          * eyes can be open to see that Jesus is working in that mundane thing
          * to be able to see that God is working already working
          * what we need is the perspective to see how God is already working.... learning how to live
             out of a place of gratitude... the hard tangible grace of God already working in your life.
           * look at those who God has sent you to bless your life

4. Wherever God leads you and has His hand on you - the land can be pleasant!!

Proverbs 3; 5 & 6
 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight.

Question from God : Do you TRUST me?

 drop all the FEAR!!
             I trust you!
             I trust that you know what is good for ME!

if the hand of God is on you - then HE will lead you to the good and pleasant land!!

He challenged us to make a list of 30 things that we are grateful for and then pray through that list every day.  I will post later on my 30 things :)

To Sum it all UP!!
for me this was a great message because I think (we all) I struggle with faith... truly trusting that he has my best interests at heart.  Sometimes i go about my day routine with out stopping to listing to what God is saying to me.

It was very difficult for me when I lost my job, not only because of the financial issues that it created, but because i felt that my job defined me! crazy huh!! but it was the one thing in my life that i felt truly good at, truly passionate about and I really really loved doing.  I took me 16 months for me to realize that God had bigger plans for me.  And i still don't understand fully what he wants of me but it's just like Proverbs 3 vs 5 says Trust in the LORD with all your heart and learn not on your own understanding.  and i'm human... that's HARD, i want to be in control!! i need to be in control, i don't like not knowing what's going to happen next... it's darn SCARY!!  and that was part of what i was depressed about, the unknown!  it was holding me back.  so my first step as you may have read about it in my Back At It post on April 19,  was letting go....

-of my past
-of my mom
-of the fact that i'm not super mom, i can't do it all... the laundry, dishes and house may not be done and perfect all the time
-of the things i can't control : our financial situation, lack of a job, my husband, my children...

and letting go has been the most rewarding thing i've ever done... the stress is gone (on most days) i feel a weight has been lifted off my my chest and i can BREATH again!

It's a new ME, and new perspective and a NEW ADVENTURE!!  and for the first time in my entire life i'm excited about the future and God's plans for me!

so YEAH me!!