Little Things

My posts this week are going to be kind of short because I'm going to school with Jacob to help him out so his back/ribs can recover. Today I want to share a few little blessings.

::Yesterday I was at my all time favorite store, Hobby Lobby. I was looking for some cool yarn to make several little girls scarves for Christmas. Well, on an end-cap, I found this awesome yarn marked down to .71 cents each!! I was so excited! I love finding deals like this.

::My friends at Mimi's Babies gave me these adorable little socks for Lily Grace. Are they not the cutest things ever?! I just love them. It's so hard to find little girl socks with the sweet lace or crocheted edging.

::The other night I was at Target killing some time while Jacob played at a wedding. At separate times, two different ladies stopped me to tell me how good I looked in the dress I was wearing. It was the sweetest thing! Now, I'm not asking for compliments or anything like that, so please don't think that! I'm sure you would all agree that that would make any pregnant girl's day! It's nice to be assured that you look nice when you're pregnant because you feel so fat (at least I do), and you know that there's a lot more cellulite, uh, flab that clothes hopefully hide! Ha.

I Thessalonians 5:18

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

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God is SO Good!

28 weeks - Lily Grace weighs about 2 1/4 lbs...like a head of cabbage.

Last week when I had my visit with the midwife, she did a simple blood test to check my blood type. It showed that I was Rh negative. Most of you probably know the risks that causes when you're pregnant with a positive blood baby. The midwife told me that I needed to get a shot of Rhogam as soon as possible because you're supposed to have the first shot at 28 weeks and then the second shot around the time of the baby's birth.

As you probably know from some of my previous posts, we do not have health insurance. So the thought of having to get a $500 (the first shot) shot and a $2500 (the second shot) shot was pretty scary. This morning we applied for Medicaid and then headed to the hospital to get my blood tested again and then get the first shot of Rhogam.

A sweet nurse drew my blood and we waited for about 45 minutes for the results. When the nurse came back she told us that the results showed that I'm actually Rh positive!!! Jacob and I were so happy we almost started jumping up and down for joy! We have been praying (so have my parents, sister, church family, and friends) that the first test was wrong and that I would actually be positive.

I just have to say, God is so good!! He answers prayer!!

This verse was in a devotional that I read this morning. I thought it was very appropriate for me today!

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. - II Chronicles 7:14

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I'm Thankful Today!

I really feel the need right now to count my blessings! Here in the south we have been experiencing rain everyday for over a week now. It is rather insane!

So much rain and gloominess has a way of getting us down. It can make us physically (aching joints), emotionally, and mentally pooped!

I read Psalm 118 this morning because I knew it would lift my spirits by all the great verses.

• O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endures forever (verse 1)
• I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me and set me in a large place (verse 5)
• The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation (verse 14)
• This is the day which the Lord has made; I will be glad and rejoice in it (verse 24)
• Thou art my God, and I will praise you: thou art my God, I will exalt you (verse 28)

What a blessing and challenge these verses are for me today! Such a reminder to count my blessings!

Today I am thankful...

• to be alive
• for a roof that doesn't leak
• that we don't have flooding (there are so many people that we need to remember to pray for as they deal with lots of damage to their homes!)
• that we are not going through a drought like many parts of the world are experiencing
• for God's Promise of a Rainbow!

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School is almost out!

My hubby is a violin teacher and I'm getting so excited about school being out for the summer! It'll be so nice for Jacob (and me) to have a little break. Of course he will still be teaching private students out of our home and he'll have a 6 week summer program that he's teaching in the schools as well as many weddings on the weekends. But I'm definitely looking forward to having him at home more...and hopefully we'll get some projects done around the house and get to spend time with friends (which we've not had time for the last few months).

This past weekend the 3 youth orchestras that he conducts had their final concerts of the year. Here are a couple of pictures from the one orchestra that preformed on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately my pregnant brain kicked in last night and I forgot to take pictures of the other two orchestras. Oh well.

Huntsville Philharmonia Orchestra

This isn't a great picture, but it gives you an idea

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10 month Anniversary!

Ten months ago today I married my best friend...

Today he is my lover, my leader, my best friend, and so much more. I think it's awesome how my love just keeps growing for him! I am so thankful for God's grace that has brought us this far and I trust Him to lead us through the rest of our lives together.
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Celebrating Life & Death

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday. We had a little family party last night for her. My sister and I made pizzas and salad and we had ice cream sundaes for dessert. It was a great evening celebrating the life of my precious Mom!

Today we are celebrating the life and death of a dear man named Billy. He was a precious man. He drove my hubby and me away from our wedding in his convertible mustang! Billy started coming to our church after our wedding and he came quite regularly up until a month or two ago. When asked about his soul, Billy would always change the subject or talk about his profession as a child.

His health started really going downhill about a month ago and he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He was in and out of the hospital many times over the course of 2-3 weeks, and still when asked if he was trusting Jesus, he brushed off the question.

Last Monday, he was sent home from the hospital with nothing else the doctors could do. On Wednesday, Billy was taken to the hospital for the last time. My Dad and my brother-in-law rushed to the ER and one last time opened God's Word to Billy. They read the passage about Jesus walking on the water and Peter going to Him and starting to sink and crying out "Lord, save me." The Lord worked in Billy's heart and on his deathbed he said "I am trusting Jesus."

Billy passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2009. Praise the Lord for saving this dear man!

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The Joy of the Lord

Today I am thankful for the joy of the Lord! I struggle with worry and stress. Not always with things in my own life, but stuff that my family and friends are going through as well. Here are two verses the Lord has been bringing to my mind the last few days:

Nehemiah 8:10
The joy of the Lord is your strength

Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore

• I am thankful for God's ever-present strength. I am so weak.
• I am thankful for the joy I have in my future with Christ.
• I am thankful for the joy that comes in knowing/remembering that the Lord is directing the path of my life (and the lives of my family and friends)!

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Thankful for the Seasons

I've been thinking about the changes in seasons a lot lately. Not just the natural seasons...Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall...but the seasons of our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

The Lord has been teaching me to be content in this season of my life. Oftentimes I find myself wishing for something different, but I know that I need to be thankful for where I am now and make the most of everyday, because this time will soon be past.

In thinking of the season changes, I'm reminded of the changes in our spiritual lives as well. Sometimes when I'm going through trials my heart is cold as winter toward the Lord. But as I draw near to Him my heart is warmed as I enjoy forgiveness and sweet new fellowship with Him.

In this season of my life I am thankful for:

• uninterrupted (for the most part) times with the Lord


• time with my hubby before we have children


• the opportunity to keep my nephew and other children


• my part-time, work from home job


• the "freedom" to do spur-of-the-moment adventures

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