Wow, it’s been awhile…

So life apparently got too busy for me to keep up my blog so I’m going to try again 😉

Let’s see…Owen has had a double ear infection along with another round of bronchitis (in MAY) and we’re heading to the doctor AGAIN today because I think the ear infection is back. We finished antibiotics 11 days ago :(.

However he is MOVING like crazy…here he is trying to CLIMB up Addy’s big girl chair (she used to be so little in it).

Addyson is getting bigger and bigger (well intellectually- not physically) 🙂 She is getting taller but at 3 years 6 months she still only weighs 26 pounds (that’s with clothes ON).

The kiddos and I are heading to Memphis, TN for a quick (14+ hour drive) 2 week trip on Saturday (we’ll leave before the sun is even thinking about rising)  to see Nana & Papa, Grandmother Atkins, Grandmother Owens, LOTS of friends and of course my co-workers! We’re super pumped…Addy’s counting down the days!

A big decision has also occurred in our lives…I’m going to be a stay-at-home Mom starting June 8th. I am SOOOOO excited about this! Not excited about leaving my position at Speak and all the people I work with but VERY excited that I get to play with my kiddos ALL day EVERY day. For me that’s saying A LOT! I NEVER was the girl who dreamed about getting married, starting a family and staying at home all the time. For anyone who knows me I am a go, go , go type of person but for some reason God has clearly given me the desire to make my family a priority over my career at this stage in life and I am A-Okay with that 🙂

Faith

I’ve been reading through the book of Matthew over the past week and have been reminded of some very basic concepts that Christ teaches His disciples that I’ve somehow forgotten or honestly never fully understood. One that I spent time reflecting on today is Matthew 17:14-21.

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon

“And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a  grain of mustard see, you will say to this mountain, `Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

When we don’t believe (have Faith in our heavenly Father and his power) we won’t be able to do the impossible through Him.

Lifehouse

Tonight was our Lifehouse social night. That means we had a meal as a group, pizza tonight, and then we mix & mingle and get to know everyone there a little bit better. All of our kids ate & played outside having a blast! I love getting to just sit & talk with all the other families that God has blessed us to be with in this Lifehouse. Thank you Ryan & Monica for opening your home to all of us each week!

Tuesday morning AGAIN…

Today was another wake early and read days that fell short. I’m just being real here…set alarm for 4:45 AM and ended up getting out of bed at 5:30 AM…giving me only 30 minutes to read before I had to hit the clock at 6 AM and get started on work.

I’m hoping that soon and very soon I will be disciplined enough to rise, read the Word, go for a run, then start my day for work…Lord give me the strength!!!

So… last night’s prayer time at ELife was amazing! The time of worship was great (way to allow the Spirit to lead you, Mark Tatum), the times of prayer lead by Berry were incredible, and the sharing time from a young missionary man who is ON FIRE for our Lord was the icing on a VERY yummy cake last night!

Everyday I get a “Daily Verse” in my email….here’s the one from today, it’s about Hope. I hope (haha) that it speaks to you like it did to me.
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Today’s Verse of the Day from The Daily Verse

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2

Notice this passage does not say “you will not walk through waters or fire…” – it says He will be with you and you will not be harmed. Trust in Him to be watching over you today, even if your circumstances are less than favorable.
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Monday Morning Inspirations…

1. So I’ve referenced this book before but as i’m going back and journaling on what I underlined during the reading of this book I’m continuing to learn and LOVE the Holy Spirit!

Pick it up….it’s a GREAT read!

I’m passing my copy along…Laura Chapman you’ll be getting this in the mail soon 🙂

2. Bible time…Over the last few years I’ve tended to online actually open up the text when it’s referenced in a book I’m reading. I know that this is not the correct way to “hid His word in my heart” and have begun to change my ways. I heard about this challenge through blog I read of a church planter whom God is using to do great things in South Carolina He challenged his congregation to do this plan and I’ve started it.  http://www.newthru30.com/

I’m on day 7 and going strong…I honestly didn’t think I could ready 12 chapters in a day but it’s the New Testament and come on, Matthew & Mark both felt like I was reading the stories of Jesus as He walked this earth.

I’ve challenged myself to do this ON TOP of the books I’m reading/ studying through with my accountability partner. Our LTG (Life Transformation Group) is going through this together too!

3.  Challenge from the weekend. This weekend at ELife Clayton Walker, our Lifehouse pastor spoke and did a great job!!! Go Clayton!!! He challenged the church “If you are a believer, you are a harvester.” Where is your calling and what are you doing about it?!

4. AWESOME Video shared by a friend on FB:

Opener: 10th Anniversary from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

5. Countdown till the in-laws are coming to Lubbock….T minus 4 days 🙂 I LOVE my in-laws and can’t wait to see them on THURSDAY!!!! 🙂

Owen’s 6 month check-up

Picture taken by Addyson (3) with my iPhone at the doc office.

Owen weighed in at 14.4 lbs and 24 inches long. Still in the 10% but holding steady 🙂

He’s busy learning how to get EVERYWHERE in our house, teething and refusing to eat (with a spoon) unless he can feed himself (showing his stubborn will already, we’re in BIG trouble).

Girl’s Night Out!!

This past Thursday we had a girl’s night out! It was a BLAST…the ELife staff wives (that could make it) were there with bells on…not really but it was TONS of fun! Our hubby’s ALL sacrificed an evening of relaxing for watching kiddos so we could have an adult only time.

THANK YOU GUYS!!!