And the baby is a.........

Well, the day has come. Today I found out that we are indeed having a...........well. If you really want to find out I figured I would use this opportunity to switch over from this blog to my new blog-Tales From the Little White House!

Many of you may wonder why I have decided to transfer over there at this point in my life and the answeer is really quite simple. I am entering a new chapter in my life and while I absolutely love this blog I felt led to move on to another one (just as I am moving on in my life). I thought it would be neat (since I am going to be writing my very first post on my new blog) to re-visit the very first blog post that I did for this blog. You can check that out here: No Compromise. I wrote that in 2008. I am amazed at the journey the Lord has taken me on since then! :)

And now onto the new chapter in this adventure-

Click on the picture below to visit my new blog and to find out what our little one is! :)

Please don't forget to follow my new blog as well :) I will still be reminding you all on here when I update so you can switch over later :)

Blessings!

My Salvation Story

My amazing friend Callie over at Through Clouded Glass is hosting a Salvation story link up today!

When she mentioned the idea I was actually surprised when I realize that I had never actually written my testimony and how that Lord came into my life. Until now.

I was raised in a Christian home. My Dad was a committed christian and my parents strove to raise us in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I was in church from the time I was out of the hospital (almost). That was my life.

When I was six years old however, I realized that something was missing in my life. That even though I had a wonderful christian family I was personally not like them.

So, one day I was sitting on my bed in my room just thinking and all the sudden I realized that Jesus was missing. That I was not good enough to make it to heaven on my own. So I asked my Dad to come upstairs and told him I wanted Jesus in my life. He prayed with me and at that moment I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. Even at that young age I knew that something was different in my life and that difference was Jesus.

It wasn't until I was about 10 years old that that decision I had made became truly real to me. I went through some hardships that year and started turning to Jesus for comfort. I realized that people would fail me but Jesus was always there.

In the years that followed Jesus became more and more real to me. Instead of being merely a religion my relationship with Jesus became just that-a relationship.

When I was 15 years old I went through a time where I said all the right words and did all the right things but on the inside I was dying. I knew that my relationship with Jesus was faltering and it scared me to death. Thank the Lord for being faithful and at the end of that year I chose HIM. I was sick of riding on the fence trying to be in the world but also be a Christian. It just did not work.

When I was just 17 I went to a small community college and found my walk with the Lord truly being challenged once again. As the year progressed I was working constantly, going to school and honestly-the Lord went on the back burner. I felt the Lord really impressing on me to prioritize and make Him first once again and stop using my busyness as an excuse. I refused. Telling myself and Jesus that I would at some point just not right now.

Until one day the Lord kind of took my feet out from under me (literally). I was riding our horse and fell-landing on my foot and hearing a distinct crack then feeling absolutely nothing. That started a year of illness that included my foot being broken at least twice. Being in a walking cast for two months. Numbness and blurriness of vision that made them think for about a month while I was getting the tests done) that I might have multiple sclerosis. Multiple ER visits. And always the unknown. Going from specialist to specialist. Being told something is definitely wrong with you but we don't know what it is. Then being sent to another specialist. Praise God that after a year we found out that all my problems had stemmed from a very bad diet (hence why I am becoming more passionate about natural foods etc). However, that year God truly became my sustainer. He was my Daddy God. And I began in that year to go to Him in surrender about everything and anything. I had to rely totally on Him. And that became SUCH a huge blessing!

I could go on with all the places my life has gone since then but a lot of you already know it. I was in a relationship that we called a "courtship" and praise God He brought me out of that using my parents. They were not controlling. They were not domineering. They knew things about that person that I did not know the extent of at the time. Because of that they had the COURAGE to step in and tell me the truth and I broke off the relationship which I praise God for!

The reason I praise God for it is because two weeks to the day that I surrendered to what I knew the Lord was telling me I went to a Bible study and met...Jason. A year and two months later to the day we met we got married. We then moved to Florida and here we are today.

One thing I am learning now is that the enemy will use distractions to get my eyes off my Jesus. I am going through a period in my spiritual walk where I have allowed my eyes to get off Jesus using busyness as an excuse. Always though, I am amazed at how gracious and forgiving He is. To think that He loves me in spite of me! With all my faults, sin, attitudes, etc. Jesus Christ still loves me. And I am still God's child.

My life is full. Why? Because God has never once forsaken me along the way. He didn't promise it would be easy. But-He did promise He would be with us every step of the way!

I am in love. With my Savior. My relationship with Him is just that- a relationship that has different phases and chapters. Different lessons to learn. One thing that will never change though is His love for me and oh how comforting that is to know!

Do you know Jesus today? Do you have a relationship with Him? What are you so thankful for that He has done in your life? What can you praise Him for today?

What if I have messed up too many times?

So really quick because I have to go get ready for church I just wanted to share a passage of Scripture I read for my early morning devotions that really encouraged me!

Sometimes it is hard, especially if we have made a lot of mistakes in our past, to think that God would still love us. Would still save us. Yet, this is what HE has to say about it in His Word:

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (pretty much sums what we are as human beings!)
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. "
Titus 3:3-7

What a glorious reminder! It is not works that we have done! We can never be good enough to be saved or be bad enough to not be saved! IT IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST and BECAUSE OF HIS MERCY HE SAVED US!

What an awesome God we serve! :)

That brought a smile to my face this morning and I hope to yours too :)

Blessings!

Super Quick! :)

The washer just finished and I need to switch the clothes over!

 We just graduated from our amazing parenting class and the Women's Pregnancy Center after (over) 12 weeks! That was bittersweet for sure! I met so many amazing women there and it was such a blessing from God! We got a brand new, in the box, pack and play and it is ADORABLE!!! We are doing a Noah's Ark theme and it even coordinates with that! :)

Tomorrow (Lord willing) I will be posting a first of guest posts! I am so excited for it and hope you all come back and read it :) Also, if any of you are interested in doing a guest post just comment with your email and I can get back to you :)

Today is the day Jason and I get a small taste of HOME! His sister and her husband are visiting from NY and we are going to have lunch with them. I AM SO EXCITED!!!! I can hardly wait to spend time with them :) It seems like we haven't seen family in forever (when in reality it is just a few months but it feels like forever).

Any ideas for cheap, fun Christmas gifts? Jason and I set a limit of $20 to spend on each other and we are trying to be as creative as possible to make it stretch! It is a fun twist that is for sure :)

Do any of you do cross stitching? I have fallen in love with it all over again! It is very relaxing to me and makes me feel productive :)

Well, I am off to make myself look half way presentable! Lol :) Just to leave you with something visual-here is a picture of me last week at 17 weeks pregnant! And yes I missed that update. Ahem. Cough. We will just gloss over that!

Have a blessed day! :)

Does abortion really have to be the only option?

I received a comment on my previous post "Would You Help Fight Against Abortion" this morning and thought I would share both the comment and my response with all of you:

"Anonymous said...

I assume the Pregnancy Center also provides free prenatal vitamins? Free labor and delivery hospitalization? Emotional and financial support to those who are kicked out of their homes? Counseling for rape and incest victims who are pregnant with their attackers child? Food, clothing and shelter for the baby and mom? Early childhood intervention where necessary?

Thanks. You reminded me that my yearly contribution to Planned Parenthood is overdue."

My response is this:

Anonymous-

Yes they do actually provide free prenatal vitamins. I have been given them personally.

 As for the free labor and delivery hospitalization they give the resources to people who have no money or good enough insurance for labor and delivery as well as prenatal care. You can then go through these FREE resources (as my husband and I did) and choose the ones that are best for you. God has so provided for us in this way through them helping us even know where to go.

One of the biggest things the center offers is emotional support through counseling and then also they do what ever they can to help those who do not have a good living situation. I know a lady personally that they helped get into some apartments at a church when she was 6 months pregnant and had no place to go. The director herself came to help her get settled and make sure everything was taken care of financially.

 Not only is there also counseling for rape and incest victims but they also offer amazing adoption support groups and resources so that if the mother chooses to she can give her baby to a couple/family who desperately wants a child. I also know a mother who used that service and is very at peace with her situation and her child is in a wonderful home.

Food, shelter and clothing for the baby and mom-they have so many resources and will work tirelessly to make sure that you and your child are ok. I already mentioned the shelter. As for food and clothing they again help you get plugged in to amazing resources as well as have a 12 week parenting class where you earn baby bucks and use those for diapers, clothes, baby necessities, and at the end receive a FREE brand new pack and play.

As for early childhood interventions there are many resources available for that as well. I am involved in a program where I can earn points and can redeem them for things like clothes and diapers and wipes and any baby need you would have until my child is over two years old!

Many girls are told that abortion is their "only" option. That they could never handle a baby. That it would wreck their lives etc...the pregnancy center also offers post abortion counseling for girls that felt they had no other choice, did not know about these amazing resources, had the abortion and are now dealing with horrible regret and guilt that plagues them for YEARS. They help them see that there is healing and redemption in Jesus Christ! That their sins can be washed away. That He will forgive them and take their guilt.

If anything adoption is always an option. And there are so many FREE resources for girls if they choose life and choose to keep their babies.

Yes, I say babies. Because that is what they are. I saw my son at 9 weeks. He was wiggling all over and his heart was beating. At five weeks his heart STARTED to beat. At six weeks blood began to course through his body. At 7 weeks hands and feet had emerged and his liver was churning out red blood cells (until the marrow formed and could take over). I could go week by week until right now and it would show from the beginning what an amazing miracle is taking place in a BABY. (Source: babycenter.com)

I do not judge these girls at all that have abortions. I pity them because most of them are given no other option. One nurse I know of (from a friend who was there) TURNED THE ULTRASOUND SCREEN AWAY so an 18 year old girl could not see her 11 week old twins MOVING and see their hearts beating. Why? Because they were giving her abortion as her ONLY option.

Another AMAZING resource the pregnancy center gives one FREE is an ultrasound. Last year 64 women came in sure that abortion was their only hope. The ladies at the center listened to them, counciled them, and then said , "Why don't we put you on the ultrasound machine just to make sure that you are indeed pregnant." When they did and these women saw their baby THEIR child moving and their heart beating and SAW that they are in fact a beautiful little person ALL 64 of them CHOSE LIFE and kept their little ones.

Am I saying that it will be easy? No it is not always easy BUT I do know that there are so many people out there who love God and love unborn babies and will do WHATEVER they can to help and support and encourage.

My husband and I have been amazed at how the Lord has provided for us! He is faithful!
There are other choices out there.

Abortion never has to be the only option.

That is my response.

Many of you have seen  my recent posts about the Walk for Life. This is the reason I do it. Jason and I have personally been so blessed with help of even knowing where to go and what to do next. When I first walked into those doors I had no idea where to really start. We were so overwhelmed by love and people that cared so much for us and our baby it just instantly put me to ease.

Here is another challenge though for all of us that my amazing friend Missie from over at Hidden Valley Simplicity commented on that same post:

"Last year I pleaded with a young woman to not abort her baby. She ended up NOT doing so and fell in love at her first ultrasound. Now, her and the baby are like family to us. One of my big things is, if we are going to cry out against abortion, we must---MUST---then help the women raise their babies after they are born!!! It's one thing to save a life. It's another to get involved in that life. It takes time and sacrifice but it's not enough to just prevent abortion. . . we have to do all we can to help that Mama give her child the best life possible, esp when circumstances are not giving Mama any support (financially, emotionally, etc). Are we willing to be there when the baby won't stop screaming at 2:00 a.m.??? Will we let the Mama and her baby be in our home frequently, just hanging out when we love our solitude and privacy, because she needs someone to be there for her? Will we buy things for them when the job the Mama has isn't quite enough for rent, clothes, formula, and diapers?"

What an amazing story but also what weighty questions that I had to ask myself! Are we willing to not just sit in church shouting out amens and hallelujahs when someone stands up and speaks out against abortion. Are we willing to actually walk the walk and do the hard things? To get out of our comfort zones. To serve and to love and to give as Jesus did?

(Source)



According to the website this picture is found on-this is a 12 week old baby.

"The baby has all of the parts necessary to experience pain, including nerves, spinal cord, and thalamus. Vocal cords are complete. The baby can suck its thumb. "

Is this little ones life worth it to us? Not only in the womb but like Missie, challenged us, outside the womb as well?

What can we do as women of God? How can we make a difference? For each of us it will be different but one thing we can all do is pray. Pray for these little lives. Pray for their Mama's. Pray to be the hands and feet to make a difference, even if it isn't in a glamorous way. Look around and see who are around us. Do you know a young single Mom? What are ways that you can help her and encourage her? Do you know a young pregnant girl? How can you encourage her and support her? Sometimes we all just need a true friend.

These involve doing.

Going.

Stepping out of that comfort zone.

Are we willing to stop just talking about it and start doing hard things for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

These lives are all so precious to Jesus-both the babies and Mama's. Do we tell them that? Do we show them that?

Or do we judge?

Proverbs 31:8-9 says this:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."

These little ones can not speak for themselves and a lot of these Mama's are destitute, poor and needy.

How can we make a difference for Jesus Christ in these girls lives today?

As I wait for the fax to go through...

I am sitting in the office waiting for a fax that I am sending to go through. Since it is 28 pages it is taking a while so I thought why not just update my blog for fun?

So what has been going on in my life lately? Hmmm, let me think:

I found this picture on my computer the other night :) What sweet memories it brings back! It is hard to believe we have been married for over five months. It seems like forever but in a very very good way! I thought I loved him on our wedding day but I am realizing that I really didn't know what love was yet! I am learning more each and every day :)

Ok, so I am not faxing anymore. Just to let you know.

So one of the things I love about my husband is how hard he works! Yesterday and today he has been working on making our front porch nicer :) He painted it and it turned out in an awesome way:

To some it may just seem like a porch but to me it is a labor of love :) And wow it looks SO much better then it did before!!! :)

So then Jason decided to tackle some of the very out of control bushes that were around the porch. He hacked. He chopped. And then did each some more. He was labor and I was management. Well, and picture taker ;)



I am one blessed girl :) I love my husband so very very much and yes my love is amazingly handsome :)

 I am so thankful that the Lord worked in my life the way He did and that He also showed me how wrong I had been in wearing my purity like a badge on my sleeve (thinking I was better just because I didn't do________________________).  God has taught me so much in my relationship with Jason. We did not court and we really didn't date. Does that make sense? Not really! :) God took two people and brought them together in such an amazing way I can not believe it!

We were best friends, God showed him I was the one he was going to marry, we became better friends,



The first picture we ever had taken together.

 he asked me to be in a relationship,

The night he asked me to be in a relationship with him :)

we got engaged-

Christmas Day 2010-The night we got engaged :)

and then one year and two months to the day after we met we got married.

May 28, 2011-the day I married the love of my life :)

 Not what I had in mind for MY plan of how my love life was going to go. God had such a bigger plan. Such a better plan. Wow. :)

Well, that was random. But that is ok :) Now I am off to read the Word with my husband. What is something you can brag on your husband about?  I would love to hear :) Blessings!



You know those songs?

So you know those songs that you have memories attached to? You know like your favorite love song, your favorite worship song, ect...

You know the feeling you get when you haven't heard a song in FOREVER and then all the sudden you hear it and it is like you are right back where you used to hear it?

Why am I bothering to ask all these questions? Well, I had one of those experiances this morning and thought I would share it with you :)

Jason and I have a love/hate relationship with our alarm. Ok, it is mostly hate! He had this song that I used to love. Emphasis on the used to. See when you tend to hit snooze a multitude of times the song that is blaring and disturbing that warm relaxed feeling that you have when you are just waking up is most definitely interupted!

So last night, after over five months of marraige, I decided to change the song on his phone (and happily erased the old one in the process)!

Well, I changed it to another song and then fell into bed exhausted sad knowing the alarm was going off so ridiculously early (LOL can you tell I am NOT a morning person).

Well, this morning the alarm went off and I jerked up! Thinking that oh Jason must be texting me. Why on earth did I think that?

When we were dating he had to go and work construction and get up like 4am. I used to text him in the morning or he would text me. That ringtone was the one that I used on my phone and it would wake me up very early some days :)

What sweet memories that brought back! Oh how I loved my boyfriend then fiancee! The amazing thing to me is that even then I had no idea what love really truly can be! Marraige is so amazing in that way!

I have been amazed the last few weeks especially how much I am falling more and more in love with my husband! We are truly growing into such a team and becoming so united in so many things it is so neat how your life becomes so wrapped up in some one elses! Suddenly it is not just what you think about a situation but what his thoughts are on it as well.

I am in love (just in case you could not tell!)! :) He was so worth the wait. ! We grew in our affection then love for one another and oh wow...I am so thankful I waited for him! :)

I thought I would share the song with you. I added pics just to make it more fun :) The beginning of our friendship to our marraige now. God is so amazing!

What is your favorite song? I would love to hear about it!! :)

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 :)


And I know He watches me...

We sang this song

in church today and I 

was absolutely amazed at 

the timing the 

Lord has.

So I decided to share 

it with you all.

His Eye Is On The Sparrow.

Civilla D. Martin

Why should I feel discouraged,

Why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart feel lonely

And long for Heav'n and home,

When Jesus is my portion?

A constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches over me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

I sing because I'm happy,

I sing because I'm free,

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me

His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled,"

His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness,

I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth

But one step I may see:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted,

Whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing,

When hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him,

From care He sets me free:

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He cares for me;

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He cares for me.

(Source)

Honestly, these last few 

months have been 

a huge struggle for me

in every way.

Do you ever feel like

your life is just

filled with darkness?

Like no matter where you go

or what/who you turn

to there is never relief?

And here is where

it gets personal.

For the last three months

it seems as though I have been

descending deeper and deeper

into an abyss of my

own making.

Why?

Well, because God was no longer

a priority in my life.

But I was doing ministy!

Well, sometimes it is possible

to get so caught up

in ministry and

the busyness of it that

we forget WHO

we are ministering FOR

in the first place.

Being back in NY has

really opened my

eyes to how deep

I have allowed certain

destructive thought patterns and

attitudes to take root

in my heart and

had started to take over my life.

Anger.

Bitterness.

Unforgiveness.

Jealousy.

Discontentment.

To name a few.

For days I have struggled.

How do I forgive?

How do I stop being so awful?

How do I begin to

LIVE again?

I.

I.

I.

I can not do it.

I can not change myself.

I can not start to live again.

I can not be good enough.

I just can't!

So Who can?

May I insert a duh here?

Who is my Heavenly Father?

Who is my refuge and strength?

Who is the Creator of the Universe?

Who was I kidding that

I could take

care of everything

on my own?

He watches over

sparrows!

How much more is 

He going to look

after His children?

The ones He sent His Son

to die on the cross for?

What love!

What mercy! 

What grace!

I have been running from

the very One

,the ONLY One,

Who can help me! 

But no more.

I want Jesus.

I want to know Him

in a way I never have!

What a comfort

to know that 

that my Savior is

watching me.

What joy there is 

in that truth!

Have you been running from

Him instead of 

towards Him?

Lets stop doing that and

turn to Him in total

and complete surrender!

What joy there is

in doing so

and truly

there is freedom in Him.

(Source)

Today I am 8 weeks!

So I have not updated in awhile!

Honestly things have just been crazy

in our lives!

Our computor died.

We ended up going home

to NY early for

a surprise visit.

We bought another computor.

I am officially today

eight weeks pregnant.

Pregnancy.

Something I longed for my entire life!

This picture was taken this past week.

Since I am eight weeks

my lil peanut is

now the size of a

kidney bean.

(Source)

According to Babycenter

my baby is the size of a kidney bean

and is already constantly

moving and shifting

even though I can't feel it yet!

How awesome is that!

To think I have a lil human being

in my belly is just amazing!

And yes, the belly is growing!

So other things of pregnancy?

I have to use the bathroom all the time!

Nausea has come unless I am eating pretty

much all the time.

My hair is growing like crazy!

My belly is round

and feels like a rubber ball.

I am super hormanal and emotional

(working on that one though)

and am exhausted!!!

But so thankful!

That God has given my both

desires of my heart!

An amazing husband

and a lil one of our own :)

A Guest Post on Contentment

One of my best friends wrote this and shared it on facebook. It really struck a chord in me and so I asked her if she would not mind me sharing it with you all on here. I am praying you are blessed by it as I was:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

How many times have I heard it said: "God will not give you what you want until you are contented where you are." I've even given that advice on several occasions. But today, I had an amazing revelation about true contentment...at least it was for me. It was a simple thought that the Lord brought to mind that changed my perspective on this little nugget of advice that gets thrown around Christian circles so easily.

You see, I have heard people say this to people who are not where they want to be in life over and over again. It's just the right thing to say. Your friend comes to you and says that she's tired of being single and she wants to be in a relationship. "God won't give you what you want until you're content with where you are." A young wife wants to know why all her friends are having kids and she's not pregnant yet. "God won't give you what you want until you're contented with where you are." It's the answer to all our problems with our present and our future...we're just not content enough to make it to the next step.

Now don't get me wrong, we are supposed to be content with where the Lord has us in life. The Bible is very clear that contentment is a crucial part of the joy that can be found in the Christian walk. The problem I had was the reason behind being content.

I was sitting on the floor in my living room, thinking about how I wish some things in my life were going a little more according to the plan I had in my head. I was starting to feel a little discouraged when I grabbed a hold of my favorite response for times like this: "God won't give you what you want until you're contented with where you are." "That's just it," I thought. "A little bit more contentment and my life will get back on track." And right then, God broke into my little conversation I was having with myself and said something to the effect of... "Do you really think My relationship with you is that superficial? Do you really think that I'm sitting here waiting for you to look like a contented Christian... to tell all your friends that you're happy where you are, and you hope nothing ever changes? Do you really see this relationship as a game of 'How happy does she look where I put her?' Is that what you think contentment is?"
And that's when I realized that I had been looking at contentment all wrong. All this time, I had seen contentment as a means to an end, as a way to get where I thought I should be. Contentment wasn't a life attitude. It was an appearance I had to keep up to show God I was ready for my next life step. I mean, it's not like I was consciously thinking that I would fool God into my way of looking at life. I was just doing it because that was what contentment was. That was how it was supposed to be used. But what I didn't get was, contentment is not a tool. It's not the way to get to where I want to be. Contentment is a lifestyle. It's satisfaction with God's plan whether He gives you what you want or not. So I'm not working to fill up my contentment quota for the day. I'm praising God that I have this wonderful life that I have to serve Him with! It's not "Contentment now, results later." It's just contentment. Joy over the fact that Father loves me enough to give me what I have...no strings attached.

So maybe this isn't news to any of you. Maybe I'm the only one just now getting this. And if this lesson was just for me, then I'm very thankful for it! But I thought I'd share what God showed me, in case anyone else could get anything from it. Christians are a family that are meant to build each other up, so hopefully this was an encouragment to somebody.

In Christ,
Elisha Chase

Our SECOND Lil Miracle

Due:

April 5, 2012 :)

What a miracle this little one is!

So excited to see what

the Lord does in and through this

pregnancy!!! :)

Full story to come :)

The spirit of fear becomes faith!

These past few weeks

have been quite the journey.

Never have I battled

so much spiritually.

Never have I known

 the Lord to be

so mighty!

He is so good!

Here is something 

I wanted to share 

with you all.

It is a verse that

the Lord gave me 

many months ago when

I was really

struggling with fear

and then just has

been impressing on me

over the past few weeks

and I just feel led

to share it with

all of you

as well as what I had

journaled about it:

"Because He is at my

right hand

I SHALL NOT BE MOVED.

Therefore, my heart is

glad, and my glory

rejoices;

MY FLESH WILL ALSO
REST IN HOPE."

-Psalm 16:7-9

I love how it talks about the fact that 

He is at my right hand.

Right next to me!

With HIM beside me it says,

not that I possibly will not be moved,

but I SHALL NOT be moved.

Even when my world seems to be

falling apart,

I CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE

that He is with me and I can REJOICE in that!

I can also rest in the HOPE that knowing He is with me

will get me through these battles and spiritual attacks.

He can help me OVERCOME MY FEARS

about my future.

My HOPE for my future is 

FOUND IN MY SAVIOR.

My flesh (I will

insert FEARS about facing the future

and being here in Summerfield

and my marriage

and about wanting a baby

and not sure if I will ever get pregnant again)

WILL REST IN HOPE!!!
I had not realized
that I had been allowing
the enemy access
to me
in different ways
but the biggest one was
through the spirit of fear.
I have always struggled with
fear and worrying but
the past few weeks 
I felt as though
I was being bombarded
constantly with lies
and instead of 
casting out every imagination
and filling my mind
with the Word of God-
I listened to those lies
and it started to effect 
every area of my life.
This past week a 
dear friend came over
and brought to our
attention that, while
spirits can never possess
a child of the 
Most High God, 
they can taunt them
and if we allow ourselves to listen to them 
we can get to the point
where we are so focused 
on ourselves and our problems
that we are not focused
on our Savior any
longer and suddenly
we can not do 
what HE wants us to do.
So we cast out the spirit 
of fear and I really started
claiming promises
from scripture and saying 
truth out loud. 
This past week
we also had some major spiritual
battles and it was so awesome
to see God work!
This area that we are living
in is so full of spiritual 
darkness but our 
GOD IS BIGGER
THAN THAT DARKNESS
and so we have started 
praying over and re-claiming
this ground for our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
Think that praying for
and entire community to be saved
is too big a thing
for God to do?
After the amazing ways I 
have seen God work this week
I truly do not believe that at all!
I believe
that God is going to 
do some great things!
Things beyond what we could
ever think or imagine!
I believe that we
as believers need to 
rise up 
and realize that there
is a battle out there
to be fought 
BUT
oh the glorious truth-
through Jesus Christ
the battle is already won!!!
What a glorious truth
but how often do we
live in that truth?!
I want to start
living and believing
for my Lord and Savior
to do amazing things
things beyond what I ever thought
He would/could.
I have been limiting God!
I am so ashamed to say it
but for months I have been living 
in fear and instead
of running and taking refuge
in my Savior KNOWING He 
would take care of me-
I have been listening to the enemies
lies and trying to fix things on my own.
How foolish!
But oh we serve
a merciful heavenly Father!
I truly feel as though
this week has been a new 
beginning in so many ways
and OH I CAN NOT WAIT
to see what happens next!!!

The Desire of My Heart...

Thank you all
for your amazing support
over the past few days.
How amazing it is
to me how I have
yet another family
here on the internet!
It truly is amazing
how the Lord works!
Today I thought that
I would share a
wedding video that
my sister Abby at
(click below to visit her blog)
Mexico Bound
made for Jason and I.
After we watched the
video for the first time
Jason turned to me
and commented how amazing
our love story is.
I would have to agree.
I am still amazed
at how the Lord orchestrated
our love story
and continues to even
to this day!



All my life all I
ever wanted to be
was a wife
and a Mama.
And in not even 2 short
months the Lord
has truly given me
both of the desires
of my heart.
I can only
praise His name for
that.
How thankful I am
for my husband,
my lover,
my hero,
my prince,
my best friend.
I would never want to spend
my life with any other.
God is so good!
If you want to read
the first part of
our story
then feel free to
click below
Lord willing I will
be working on our
story till it is finished
as time allows :)


(Click here to read our story)

March 2, 2012

Dear Blog Readers,

Just wanted to let you know that

I should be coming around

March 2, 2012.

Mama and Daddy just

found out today

that I am on my way.

They are very excited!

I am not sure

if God is going to

make me a

boy or a girl yet.

Mama and Daddy

are sort of hoping

for a boy

but they don't mind

as long as I am healthy.

Please pray that Jesus doesn't

take me to heaven early

and that both

Mama and I

are healthy and

everything goes smoothly.

Excited to meet

you in March

Lord willing!

Love,

Baby Hollands

The first time.

The first time. 

My husband-to-be

saw me

was sooner than at most weddings.

Because we had 

a short time in between

the wedding and reception

we decided to do 

pictures beforehand.

I am so thankful we did!

It was so relaxed and amazing!!

 Getting my dress on :)
So proud of my beautiful Mother! :)

 I AM GETTING MARRIED!
Feeling like a princess! :) 
Love my girls so much!

My beautiful sister Abby
helping my get downstairs :)

Because we decided to do pics before hand 

 I walked down the aisle 
at my home Church. 

It was so special
  just the two of us! :)

 The first time he saw me in my dress :)

 So full of joy!!!

Loving his shorts :)
His black pants had not
come yet! :)

 "Do you like the dress?"

I think he did :)

 After he saw me for the first time
we sat down and 
read the Bible and prayed together. 
What a special memory of our day! :)
The first time.
He saw me.
What an amazing thing!
It was worth the wait!!!
More pics to come soon :)