16 Weeks

I got this idea from Anna at Hope Road and Anna (different one) at Young and Married :) I am on my last day of my 16th week but I wanted to start doing this so here we go:

(Just a little bit blurry!)



Size of baby:
My baby is the size of an avocado this week! It is about 4 1/2 inches long. I love how Baby Center has weekly updates it is so much fun to see how much a week makes a difference in the baby! :)

(Source)

Total weight gain: 
I have probably gained about 7ish pounds at this point. Heh, yeah, about the whole body widening thing...yeah that takes getting used to lol :) I am carrying really low and it pops right out! You can definitely tell now that I am pregnant!

Maternity clothes:
I am wearing all things LOOSE right now! Nothing tight because it is so uncomfortable! I love skirts because they are so loose and not restrictive! Looking for a pair of maternity jeans though because we are heading back to NY in December and oh I shiver just thinking about it!!!

Movement:
I love starting to feel my little bean move! It is amazing! It is little flutters and the farther I get along the stronger they are getting. Jason even got to feel it moving which was so awesome! It is so much fun :) I can hardly wait till it starts moving and I can start seeing it moving!

Sleep:
Still sleeping really well so far! I am thankful for that :)

What I miss:
I miss my old clothes. Jeans. Skirts. Shirts. Sniff. Lol :) Pre-pregnancy weight...those were the days! That is one thing that I am worried about losing it but I am not going to think about it now :)

Cravings:
I am not really like craving sugar if anything I am more salty stuff (ok so, tortilla chips with melted cheese oh wow amazing!).

Symptoms:
I was super nauseous and exhausted my first trimester but now it is starting to abate thankfully! :)

What I am looking forward to:
Feeling the baby really start to move as it grows! The flutters are so wonderful now! Also knowing it can hear me so I can start speaking scripture over it.

Milestone(s):
I would lump that with the best moment this week :)

Best moment this week:
I had a scare this week and went to my midwife. She helped calm my fears and then once she explained what was going on she put me on the ultrasound. There my little baby was moving and wiggling and healthy. I almost cried from the relief! THEN, the Lord blessed us even more! We unofficially found out what we are having! I am waiting to say though until we have our official ultrasound within the next two weeks :) God is so amazing! It has been a wonderful week :) God is gracious!

Hope you all are having a great week :)


Would you help fight against abortion?

Our little....(WE DO KNOW WHAT IT IS but...are waiting to reveal!) peanut from the first ultrasound we had at the Women's Pregnancy Center at nine weeks.

Our story in the fight for abortion started when my husband Jason and I were still engaged and living in NY. We had learned about an 18 year old girl who was pregnant and her options that were being given to her were abortion or have to face telling her Dad (which to her meant being kicked out of the house possibly). The nurse adviced abortion and then did an ultrasound but because the girl was considering an abortion she turned the screen away so she could not see her 11 week old twins moving and kicking and LIVING.

Jason and I decided to go to the clinic and try to offer help to this girl and other options. We sat outside that clinic for two hours. I cried the whole time. These girls were not monsters. They were 15 years old! One couple came out and the girl was just weeping. But it was too late for her baby...and she knew that. My heart broke for her.

Since that day we wondered what we could do to help put a stop to abortion and to bring hope into these poor broken hearted girls lives and that hope being Jesus Christ.

When we got to Florida after we had gotten married we had just found out that we were pregnant with our first child. We went to the Women's Pregnancy Center and got our free official pregnancy test. They were so helpful and so loving and the Lord Jesus just filled that place. We went away so excited for the future. The next day I lost my baby. But the director from the pregnancy center stayed in touch taking time out of her day to call me and see how I was doing and remind me that the Lord was there. What an impact that made on me.

About a month and a half later we were overjoyed to learn that God had blessed us with a second little miracle. We went and got the pregnancy confirmed and started to attend Helping Hands the free parenting class they have for first time parents. What a blessing that has been to us! On top of that when I was nine weeks pregnant I got to have a free ultrasound and we saw our lil bean wiggling and moving about as well as its heart beat. They have supported us this entire pregnancy and I am so thankful that the Lord sent us to the Women's Pregnancy Center.

When the walk was mentioned to us we were so excited. We have experianced first hand how what a difference this ministry makes in peoples lives. And not just in adults.

Last year 64 women came in determined to have abortions. Because all the resources the pregnancy center offers are completely free they put these women on the ultrasound machine and when they saw their beautiful babies moving and their heart beating all 64 of them changed their minds. 64 beautiful babies were saved!

The Walk for Life is one of the two biggest fund raisers that the Women's Pregnancy Center has a year. Because they are non-profit they have no government aid whatsoever. All of the services they offer are completely free and they touch hundreds of people a year.

Would you consider joining us and truly helping save lives. It is so easy to donate and truly your money will help save lives!

We now know a way to fight against abortion. Here in Florida they do abortions up to 16 weeks in Ocala (where the Women's Pregnancy Center is) and in Orlando they do abortions up to 24 weeks.

 This is real. This is a war.

Will you help us fight?

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page: Walk for Life.

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

Some quick news

Whew it has been awhile since I updated! I have been sick this week and so I have been taking it easy! :) But I wanted to pop in and just let you know that no I have not quit blogging. ;)

This week I have had a lot of time to get into couponing! Do any of you coupon? I have started using three amazing resources from the same lady and have saved a bunch of money (and even gotten money back) just by using coupons! Do any of you have tips or such about couponing. I am thinking about blogging my shopping endeavors. Would you be interested in that?

Also, Jason and I (our love story) has been featured on my friend Kristen's blog- The King's Bride. Be sure to check it out! :) Kristen has always been an inspiration to me so it was so neat when she asked! She is definitely a blessing :)

It is cold in Florida. No really. Like 60's and 70's and lower and I am FREEZING!!! :) Really wanting to buy that pair of maternity jeans so I can be a little bit warmer!!! :)

I am 15 weeks and my baby is the size of an apple. AND I have been feeling the flutters for a bit but the other night Jason got to feel his little baby move for the first time ever!!! :) So special! We are going to be finding out what it is soon and I have posted a poll to see what your guesses are :) We will see who is right :)

Well, I am off to get ready for the rest of the day.

Here is a verse I thought I would leave you with:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed. "

Isaiah 53:5

What an amazing Savior we have! That was definitely a reminder to be oh so thankful to Him for all that He has done for me. Wow! He is good!

What is our Sacred Intent as we become Women?

I decided to go back to the archives today and re-read some posts and was convicted once again. I thought somehow that when I got married things would get better and life would be ,well, not quite perfect but almost-you know things that many young, dreamy girls believe.

Now I am not saying that I am not blessed with an absolutely amazing husband and marriage, but-it was an adjustment (and I am sure will continue to be for my whole life). When you go from being single minded and one person to all the sudden having a husband to support and love and be a help-meet to things change!

Sometimes I feel as though the house will never be clean enough. Or I get discouraged because I am unable to have piping hot, home made meals three times a day (although I am working on that one!), or the laundry is just a mountain that seems unattainable or...well, you know the things that are every day things for a lot of people.

Sometimes it is easy to forget Jesus.

I get so so busy trying to be the "perfect wife" I have in my head that I do not go to my Savior and spend time with Him in the Word and in prayer listening to what He wants from me.

So what is our intent?

What are we supposed to do as we move from girlhood into womanhood. What an amazing, scary, emotional, uncertain time of life that can be! Sometimes it is hard to even remember amidst the housework and the laundry and the phone calls and work what we are really here for.

I am going to share with you a quote from a post that I wrote on July 14, 2009. Two days before my 19th birthday.

A few years ago and yet, it still challenged me as I re-visited it this afternoon:

"I love this quote from Leslie Ludy and thought I would share it with you girls out there as an encouragement and a challenge:

'God's sacred intent for us goes far beyond just saving

sex till marriage, wearing one-piece swimsuits instead of

skimpy string bikinis, or idolizing Christian bans instead

of secular ones. It is not just making sure we tack on some
Christian morality to our self-indulgent lives.

His sacred intent for you and for me is nothing short of

absolute abandonment to Jesus Christ, entire separation from

the pollution of the world, and ardent worship of our

King with every breath we take.

Yes, it's a huge vision-one that is contrary to everything

our culture presents. In our modern world, we as young

women seem to be presented with only two options for our

femininity-we can either embrace the sensual, sexed-up

version of womanhood glorified by pop culture or we can

go the opposite direction and trade in perfume and makeup

for grit, grunge, and guy-like behavior.

But both of these options cause us to completely miss out

on the glorious pattern God designed for our femininity. We

were created to shine with heavenly beauty, to radiate with Christ-
like feminine loveliness, and to sparkle with the lily-white
purity of our Prince (Jesus). We were created to be set-apart
for Him.

-Excerpt from 'Set-Apart Femininity'"

We were created to be set-apart for HIM. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who CHOSE to lay down His life for each and everyone of us on that old rugged cross. What a glorious freedom that brings! Is it really a sacrifice to surrender our lives (even the little parts we don't want to let go of) to HIM considering He willing laid down His entire life for us?

Absolute abandonment. Total separation from the pollution of the world. Ardent worship of our King.

This post is more a challenge to me than anything else! I want Jesus! In all areas of my life! I want to radiate HIM. And I want to stop saying that and move forward to take steps towards that end. I no longer want to fit Him into my life when it is merely convenient. No. I want my entire life to be completely centered and revolving around Him.

So what is our true sacred intent?

Oh Jesus, may You continue to teach us each and every day of our lives may we become more and more like you and fall deeper in love with You.

So what about you ladies? Are you living out what God would have you to live out? The intent that HE has for your life?

Just some thoughts that the Lord gave me today and I thought I would share.

What are your thoughts?

99 Balloons

"Eliot was born with an undeveloped lung, a heart with a hole in it and DNA that placed faulty information into each and every cell of his body. However, that could not stop the living God from proclaiming Himself through this boy who never uttered a word."

What would have happened if this little ones life would have been snuffed out by abortion when they found out that supposedly: "He wouldn't make it to birth anyway." What blessings and miracles this family would have missed out on! And what an inspiration this little family is to me personally. I believe that God brought this video to mind this morning and that I was supposed to share it with you all. So I did.

You can find Elliots Dad's blog here: 99 Balloons and his Mom's blog here: Orbit of the Mooneys and there is also a link on the Dad's website to the blog that they wrote during Eliot's life and after.

What or who inspires you today?

O Victory in Jesus!

An Excerpt from my prayer journal dated Monday, September 26, 2011:

"Yesterday in church Pastor was in part seven of his series on no limits. One thing I have been learning about lately is taking control of my thoughts. It seemed impossible but then he was talking about how we have guarenteed victory in You Lord!

'But thanks be to God!

 He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.

 Let nothing move you.

 Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,

 because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.'

-1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Wow! I (and every single child of God) have the victory in and through my Precious Savior Jesus Christ!!

The next point was how in our guarenteed victory we have absolutely incredible weapons:

'

'For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;'

-2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Casting down imaginations and bringing into captivity every thought to the obediance of Christ. That is what I really need to work on! The awesome thing though is that I can have the victory over these seemingly giants in my life because of Jesus christ and His power working in my! Thank You Jesus!

And to think-that I also have angels to help me as well according to this verse:

 'The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them. 
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
  Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
¹ The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.'

-Psalms 34:7-10

Wow! Wow! Wow! Oh my Jesus! Thank You! Now Lord, help me today to live this out. To take these precious promises and stand on them believing that You will bring them to pass. Help me Lord...

I have been allowing myself to listen to the enemies lies and live in defeat. Forgive me for that Lord and help me to move forward in victory from that lifestyle. Victory I can claim in and through You as YOUR child! Thank you Jesus!

In Your Name I pray,

Amen "

What is something in your life that you know that Jesus can give you victory in? Our God is so good and we do not have to live in defeat! We have the victory, the battle is already won, in and through Jesus!

So often we live in defeat though...

I needed this reminder and these precious promises today, Lord willing you did too :)

Have a blessed day!

Oh and on a side note:

I took this really neat picture of a Florida grasshopper (or are they locusts?) well, whatever they are they are big! Anyway I took this picture this morning and thought it was so cool!

Cute little guy huh? :) Have an amazing day! :) Keep your eyes on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ :)



33 minutes that should change your life...

What are your thoughts on modesty?

I posted this on my facebook a few days ago and thought I would ask my readers for their thoughts :)

"Ok girls so what are some thoughts on modesty? What are some areas that are super easy to compromise as Christians when it does come to modesty? Why do we think (even as Christians) that we need to show ourselves off in order to be someone or something? Thoughts?"

Some thoughts from my friends of facebook were these:

• Christy from over at My Life For Christ said:

"I think it's very easy to compromise when we're at certain events. (formal events, swimming, etc) Somehow, we forget that if something would cause a brother to stumble, being at a wedding or next to a pool will not magically make it modest. I'm thankful to have brothers who remind me of this."

• My sister Abby from Mexico Bound said:

"I think just because you "have it" doesn't mean to flaunt it. Now I also don't think you need to dress in floor length skirts and up to the chin shirts. Really seek the Lord about it and think about if you would want your future husband looking at someone who dresses like you. Puts it in perspective for sure."

• A lady named Carol said:

"A rich Texan looking for a dress for his wife after seeing many selections and turning them all down said to the clerk" My wife is like my money i n the bank , I don't have to see it to know it's there." Simple Huh?"

So what are your thoughts? :)

In all my ways...

  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 
  In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. 
Proverbs 3:5-6

This morning I woke up with my blog heavy on my heart and so I started to re-evaluate and pray about why I was even writing this blog?

What is my purpose on here?

Am I even reaching anyone? Am I making a difference?

Then I realized what I am not supposed to be doing.

I am not supposed to be writing for people but instead everything that I share on here should be in some way bringing honor and glory to my precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by pointing others to His saving grace.

As a result of what the Lord challenged me with-I have added a new page to the top of my blog and it is entitled: "Am I good enought to go to heaven?" It is a test. The ULTIMATE test. If you are not sure I would encourage you to take it. The result truly is life or death.

So I surrendered this blog to HIM once again realizing that this blog is HIS and HIS alone. The verse says in ALL your ways acknowledge Him. And so I am acknowledging Him here and trusting that He will continue to direct in which way this is supposed to go.

It needs to be all about HIM. In every single aspect of our lives! So that was what the Lord laid on my heart today! :)

So today was a good day :) Here in Florida the weather was absolutely GORGEOUS so we took advantage of it and ate outside then Jason practiced his juggling while I read the Bible aloud to him and journaled. It was so nice!

See how that knife is pointed straight at his forehead? Don't worry it didn't hit him ;) I love what the camera catches!!

So then we went to a park and because we got hungry on the way we stopped at good ol' KFC :) But I did have a salad for lunch so that balances it out right? ;)

The park was absolutely beautiful and not really full at all. I had so much fun taking pictures! I really had missed my photography! Hopefully I will be able to get more and more into it again :)

I am 12 weeks and looking it! Whew. According to my midwife TOMORROW I will be 13 weeks and in my second trimester! I am so excited and so thankful to the Lord! Although-today I tried on some old clothes and they didn't fit. Sigh. Ok why I love skirts so much? First they are amazingly comfortable and cool (especially in the Florida heat) and secondly they tend to hide extra baby weight! ;) And yeah I know you are thinking whew she is only 12 weeks she has a long way to go! Gulp. Well, some women have told me that our bodies do change when we get pregnant and wow I am starting to believe it! :)

Then just some pictures with my amazing husband. Truly he was so worth waiting for! I love him so much and am so desiring to be the wife that God calls me to be! He is my greatest gift from my Savior and oh I am so thankful that God's ways are not my ways because I would definitely not be in the place I am now and that would not be good! God is so merciful :)

What we were looking at :) Creation truly does showcase our amazing God! The water is so blue and just absolutely takes your breath away!

 Well, that was my day :) Tomorrow we are off to get our lives transferred to Florida from NY officially (address change, license change for Jason, etc...) May the Lord richly bless each and every one of you! How did the Lord bless you today?





Courageous the movie

Last night we took some youth and went and saw the movie "Courageous". Wow! That pretty much sums it up! It was absolutely phenominal! Not only was it done incredibly well but heartwrenching yet hysterical the next moment. They did a perfect mix with drama but also laughter. It was so neat!

The movie is aimed towards Fathers but I walked away with so so much from it! There were so many life lessons in it. Seriously, it is a must see :)

Have any of you seen it yet? What were your thoughts?

Before and After

So I have not updated in a bit. Obviously. Things have been a little bit crazy to say the least! And yet they are starting to become a lil bit more sane. If that makes any sense?

My amazing husband and I celebrated our four month anniversary. Four months? Only four? Honestly it has felt like a lifetime! In a good way :) Here are some of the things we have done in the last four months just since getting married:

• Got married
• Went to Canada for our honeymoon-now I am remembering some of the pictures we took and am digging around for them:

Oh yeah, and who can forget about the time I put dish soap in the dishwasher because I ran out of dishwasher power stuff. Ahem. I would never do something that would cause a small waterfall in our kitchen at our cottege. Nope. Not me.

•  Got home from our honeymoon and packed our life into Jason's lil Ford Taurus. By the time we I was done with it the poor car was on a scary upwards angle there was so much weight on the back! But with prayer we struck out.
• We stopped in Connecticut to meet/visit a blog friend that I have known for over two years. Rebecca and I had quickly become best friends and as close to sisters as you can get without actually being sisters! What a joy it was to finally meet her and Justin as well as her family! We had so much fun with them :) You can visit Rebecca's new blog Butterfly Days.

Jason loved playing with her younger siblings! :)

•  We went from Connecticut to North Carolina to visit some very close friends and what fun we had! Sun, Beach, friends that are like family-it was such a blessing from the Lord!

•  While in NC we learned something that was a complete and total surprise! Jason went out kyacking on the waves and I took some pregnancy tests. It was official-Jason was a Daddy! And I told him so:

 What a perfect day that was. We were thrilled beyond words! And so excited to see what God was going to do with our lil family!

•  After saying goodbye to our friends in NC we struck out for our new home in Florida. Summerfield. We had no idea what would await us there but we knew that the Lord had most definitely called us there. They had even supplied a house for us! What a blessing that was. Jason was going to be working with the youth and we were going to also help out in whatever way around the mission compound for Evangelical Bible Mission.
• We got to Summerfield and immediately began to work on it. Rooms like the living room went from this:

To this during renovation:






• It was during this renovation process of my entire house-

that I went to get my positive pregnancy test at a women's pregnancy center and we were overjoyed to find out that I was indeed pregnant although not even five weeks yet.

On the way home I began to have some problems and the next morning I woke up and knew that I had lost the baby. I was overwhelmed by the amazing support I received from women who had experianced the same thing and I started to gain new perspective as I read their stories and realized that I was not alone.

Honestly losing a little one was one of my greatest fears in life but one thing I have learned is that truly sometimes the Lord brings us face to face with some of our greatest fears just to show us that TRULY His grace is sufficient in our greatest times of need. I have a lil one waiting for me in Heaven and I can hardly wait for the day I get to meet that lil one face to face. Until then-he is in the arms of Jesus and what comfort comes from knowing that!

• Soon after I lost the baby my family and friends came up to surprise me from NY for my 21st birthday! What a fun time we had :) It was such a blessing to have them here and especially because I was still dealing with the loss of my baby I so appreciated them!
• Did I mention that I had also taken over a thrift store during this time? I was the official manager and Jason would help me. Whew what a lot of work that was!
• At the same time we were also ministering to those in the church as well in the community and for quite a while I had people in my house 24/7 which started to just drain me (with everything elso going on).
• One night I took a pregnancy test about a month after my miscarraige and was devastated when it was negative and once again I had to surrender it to the Lord. Well, another weekish went by and I was really starting to wonder so in the Walmart restroom while I was waiting for our car to get an oil change I took another test, walked away from it and surrendered me not being pregnant to the Lord, walked back and guess what?!?

The Lord had blessed us with another baby! What a surprise to me and what a precious gift from God! At nine weeks we got to go and get an ultrasound. What a blessing that was! To see our lil bean moving and wiggling was such a relief! It was amazing we even got to see its lil heart beating. At NINE weeks! Here is our lil bean:

• Now that we knew we were pregnant again things continued to become a little more solid. Meaning my house began to be more finished-

Things were beginning to turn around and yet in my heart I was still really struggling. I have it all! A house, a wonderful husband, amazing friends and family who are so supportive and something was still missing!

Someone once commented on how it was not a good thing I was depressed already (just being married) and I am sure some wondered what it was.

It was not my husband . He is the best thing besides Jesus Christ that has ever happened to me and truly is my prince. He exhibits what real love is every single day and is so patient and so loving with me. He puts Christ first and foremost in his life and you can tell!

It was not losing my child. Although that was so difficult I know that my baby is in heaven and God gives healing.

It was not________________________________ whatever fill in the blank.

So many women all over the world deal with so many things that are far greater than I could ever imagine and yet-they are at peace.

Why?

How!?


Do not be anxious about anything,
 but in every situation,
 by prayer and petition,
 with thanksgiving,
 present your requests to God.
And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7


Present your requests to God.




Sounds easy right?


Sounds like it should be the first thing you should do anyway right?


Well, to my shame, I didn't.


I kind of forgot about my Jesus.


I mean of course I knew that He was there like always but I did not act like it. I tried to be the "perfect wife" on my own (and failed miserably). I tried to fix my problems on my own. I tried to deal with my sin that I was really struggling with on my own (anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, pride).


Notice a common theme there?


I.


Wow. So easy it is to get so consumed with ourselves. And how much easier it is to get our eyes off of the very One they are supposed to stay focused on-our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


Today I had that priviledge to go to a conference that was being streamed live. Wow did the Lord use it to convict me. Convict me of what though?


Trying to live life while attempting to fit Jesus in when it was convenient for me instead of living my life in such a way that my all was built around HIM.


Then-they sung this song and oh, how did it touch me! To think that my Jesus paid it all!


All for me!


All for you!


So then I had to seriously ask myself why on earth have I been living like I have to pay it all. Why have I been trying to buy approval from my friends, family, my precious husband and my Savior when He already had paid it all!?


My debt is gone.


I am set free!


What glorious freedom! And how that makes me want to change how I have been living! I no longer want to live for me. I want to live for my Jesus. I want 150% surrender!!!!! He paid it all!!!! It just makes me want to live for HIM!


So what about you?


Where are you today?


What has Jesus been whispering in your ear?


Will you stop and listen?


I am posting the song "Jesus Paid it ALL" and I really want you to take time to listen and pray through it. He paid it ALL for you! What an amazing Savior we have!