Aurelia's first Christmas

Christmas Day has come and gone, and minus the crazy sickness I had and Aurelia's croup, I think it went pretty well! The great thing is that Aurelia is probably the most down to earth baby, even when she is sick, which made for easy traveling and such. At first, I felt like I shouldn't have been taking her outside when she was sick, but upon investigating croup, I found that the cold air probably helped her with the inflammation in her little lungs. So I didn't feel as bad :)

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas evening with the Hill family at the cottage this year. It was a good time just relaxing, eating, and catching up. This year we included Mom and Dad in the name draw pot, so money spent was less for everybody. I received a great gift from my new brother in law Alex: some slippers that I wanted and a beginner's painting set that includes some brushes, paint, and five canvases.... we'll see how that goes :P



Christmas Day we drove home for church, which was nice. After church, we came home and took a nap, which was much needed, since I was feeling not so great. (Turns out I had a bug that was going around... never would have guessed that heartburn/indigestion would be caused by a bug... but I am glad it was nothing more than that. The first 4 days of it weren't that bad, but the last 2 were pretty painful.) It was a lot of fun celebrating Christmas for the first time with Aurelia! She got very spoiled by all of her family members, and we ended up getting her some Mega Bloks. Oh, and her church family spoiled her quite a bit as well :P Here she is in her Christmas Dress :D

The Hill family has a small tradition of making egg rolls on Christmas Day, and since Josh and I were at home, we were going to miss it.... So, even though the cottage was almost two hours away, we decided that we really wanted egg rolls! We made the trip back and were glad that we did -- along with egg rolls, Amy made HotPot for us to enjoy :D Monday was spent in Owosso with more family for Christmas, and then we were finally home!

Today has been one of the first days that we actually had nothing work-related to do, and it has been so wonderful! We spent the day sleeping in, playing with Aurelia, and watching TV/reading. Tomorrow and Thursday will be just as nice, being able to hang out and relax (although I think laundry will have to be done eventually :P) until we head out to Clare either Thursday evening or Friday morning.

I am not really sure if you all wanted to hear what we have done for the last weekend, but thats what you got :) The main news is that I don't have something major going wrong with me and Aurelia is also on the road to health! Josh is doing well... enjoying his time off, and being a great dad and husband!!!

I also chose to start working out again today, because it makes me feel way better when I was this summer. I have a pair of 'goal jeans' and a nice 'goal sweater' hanging on my wall to motivate me when I feel like being lazy or when I feel like eating the whole jar of frosting in our fridge.... which would be a lot of points (I started counting those again too :P) I have been full of excuses about weight and eating and working out, and I am sick of not following through. It is probably the hardest thing I have had to do my entire life, and I have always failed at losing weight. I am ready to actually do it this time... I think that God really used this sickness to help me see that my body is His temple and that I need to be healthy in order to really serve Him and my family in the best way possible.

This is probably long enough. I don't think I have anything to add to it, so Good Night :)

Our Last Great Hope

"We don't have to be a generation of wasted potential. 'Our Last Great Hope' shows us how."

This is the quote from Steven Furtick, a lead pastor and author, that is on the front of the book entitled 'Our Last Great Hope' by Ronnie Floyd. I agree with Mr. Furtick: Ronnie Floyd does a nice job of taking every Christian's mission -- The Great Commission -- and breaking it down in a way that we can apply it to our everyday lives. Floyd helps us take steps toward "awakening the great commission" by stirring a passion in our hearts to change our ways to reflect Jesus' behaviors.

I found this book to be challenging, deep, and a good overall read. I gained not only a deeper understanding of the Great Commission, but also a new perspective of how I am called to see it through. I would recommend this book to any Christian looking to further understand what God has called His children to, as well as those looking for ideas on how to live out what they will learn.

I received this book for free from booksneeze.com

Christmas and Joy

As Christmas is only 11 days away, here is a little Christmas update, of sorts :)

First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS! Looking out the window right now, it doesn't look like the Christmas season: it is rainy and quite dreary. But I guess this time of year isn't all about snow, or presents or trees. Yep, you know what I am going to say.. Its ALL ABOUT JESUS :)

And He is always faithful. He always provides, and always shows up. He has been teaching me a lot this past few months, and I have been trying hard to be a good pupil....

Josh and Aurelia and I have been busy nonstop pretty much since school started, and I will admit that it has been trying. Quality time in a marriage is crucial, and we weren't getting much of it, which was leading to stress at home. Add to that Aurelia getting pneumonia, two weddings, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and we have a full on panic attack.. :P

But, thankfully, God is good, and He has everything under control when we give it all to Him and try not to control the situation. God has proven faithful in not just most situations, but ALL situations, and the more I give to Him, the more peace I feel.

I pray that this Christmas, we can all remember Christ, and the sacrifice He made for us. He's always got your back :)

Also, I want to thank everyone who has been praying for us and who has helped us out in the last couple years... You have no idea what a blessing you are to us, and we are so thankful for your faithfulness to God! I especially want to thank the Lighthouse Assembly of God church for all that they have done for us -- From the moment I walked into that building, I felt like I was a part of your family :) Thanks for loving Josh and his family and he has added to it over the years :) We love you!



May God bless you this Christmas season :)

Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom

Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom is written by Stovall Weems, and is a very inspiring book. Awakening is all about how to 'un-gunk' our spiritual life so that we can walk more closely with God every day. Weems writes about why we should strive for such a passionate with relationship with God, and he also includes a 21 day Plan to help you "activate the principles that ensure a lasting, vital relationship with God". Also included is a guide to fasting and a small group study guide.

The contents of this book challenged me to re-evaluate what it means to be a Christian, and what a relationship with God should really be like. It also helped me to understand more about fasting, how we should/can do it, and why we do it. I would recommend this book to people who feel as if they have strained their relationship with God and want to come back to Him. It is an encouraging, challenging, and insightful read.

I received this book for free from www.bloggingforbooks.com

A few of Aurelia's Firsts

So, we have been keeping quite busy lately, but we have tried to take a few moments and enjoy some of Aurelia's many firsts with her. Last week, when we had some snow, we decided to bundle Aurelia up and go play outside! It was great packing snow, so Daddy made her a big snowman (Those pictures are on a different camera, which I have currently misplaced, so hopefully I will find it soon to post those). Aurelia wasn't really sure what to do with the snow, but I think she had fun.

Here is a view of the beautiful day it was after it snowed!





This is the apple tree in our neighbor's yard.
Yes, we all have sock monkey hats :)

We also put up our Christmas tree, and Aurelia as well as Marvin enjoyed 'helping' us!
Aurelia got to help Daddy put the star on top!



So we have had some fun times enjoying our family this winter, and I hope that you have as well. Don't forget to make time for the little moments!

Update

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
-- Titus 2:11-15

This was part of my devotions today, and it just really struck me as awesome, and packed full of good things :)

On another note, Josh and I have stayed pretty busy lately, with weddings and family time and work and everything else going on. Joe and Kelsey's wedding was very nice, and we enjoyed our time in Midland. This weekend, we ended up in Mt. Pleasant by ourselves, even though we were planning on making it a teen trip with our youth group juniors and seniors. We were planning on taking them to the His House Christmas program, to La Seniorita for some burgers, and then taking them on a tour on Friday of campus. But all of them bailed Thursday afternoon. So we prayed about it, and decided to go ourselves :) It was a good time to just relax and enjoy each others' company. We had some friends who were kind enough to set up an air mattress at their house for us to sleep on (We slept in Shepherd at the Shephard's house :P). Friday we got some shopping done (We really miss having a Meijer close to us, as well as Aunt Millie's!) and then decided to hit up Sam's Club for lunch (SAMPLE TIME!!!) Then we had a coupon for a free slushie at SpeedWay, so got that and just drove around for a while. It's crazy how just driving around becomes so enjoyable after you have a baby and they aren't with you :P

Next weekend, we are looking forward to a weekend in Chicago to see my sister-in-law Amy get married to Alex, and then after that, who knows what is going on!

Thats an update on our lives right now. God has really been moving through us, and we feel like big changes are coming sometime in this next year, but we aren't sure what. We are just trying to keep our focus on God, and not let anything disrupt His plan, including ourselves and our wants :P

Oh, and Aurelia is doing wonderfully after her run in with Pneumonia; she is completely off of her oral antibiotics/steroid and is only doing breathing treatments a couple times a day. We will probably continue the treatments at least once a day throughout the winter, but she is doing great and she is enjoying life :) She now her two bottom teeth and is really wanting to get walking, though Mommy and Daddy are hoping that won't happen for at least a couple more months ;)

Make Your Own Baby Wipes

So, I thought I'd share what I've been doing since Aurelia was about three months... a friend shared this with me, and if you know who the Dugger's are, this idea came from them.

Making your own baby wipes saves you money and I actually like them better because they aren't as wet, leaving Aurelia with less diaper rash. They are also great to keep near the high chair, as they work great to wipe sticky hands and faces, and I don't feel bad using them because they are a lot cheaper!

HERE'S HOW TO DO IT:

Save an old ice cream pail, and cut a slit in the middle of the lid. Take a roll of BOUNTY paper towel and cut it in half ( This is the most difficult part.. I would suggest an electric knife, and we dont even have one, its just what I thought would work way better).
Place half a roll of paper towel in ice cream pail and add:

2 CUPS WATER
2 TABLESPOONS BABY OIL
1 TABLESPOON RUBBING ALCOHOL

I usually mix all three things together and then pour on the paper towel, so that it is covered evenly with the oil and alcohol. Let set for 20 or 30 minutes, then remove cardboard from the middle and voila! You have your own baby wipes!

This would work great for toddlers too, so for all you moms out there, try it out and see if you like it! Its much cheaper than buying wipes :)

The End of the Month

It's almost November. It's almost a New Year. I almost have a one year old. I have a rambunctious kitten. I've lost ten pounds. I have coached a season of volleyball.

This fall season is rapidly turning into winter, and there isn't a break in sight. Sometimes I think I like it that way, because then I dont really have to face the real issues that are in my family, or more specifically, my relationship. But more on that later.

In the beginning of the month (I'm actually not sure if it was this month, or last month, so we are going with this month), I posted that I wanted to lose ten pounds before November. I really feel like I haven't been losing any weight, especially with being sick and have a sick family. But the scale shows numbers that say I have lost ten pounds, and I think I can be happy with that! I also found that some of my favorite pants from the prepregnancy days fit me again, and that was a good discovery, as well as a motivator to keep up the good work so that I can fit in to the rest of my pre-pregnancy pants!

That was the mega find from yesterday. Today, I woke up to a fairly happy baby, despite the long, frustrating night we both had. Aurelia, the baby who doesnt like to be rocked to sleep, wouldn't sleep unless I was holding her. I guess its comforting when shes teething. Finally, after about three hours, she fell asleep enough for me to transfer her to her crib for the remainder of the night. I did find out that her cute little halloween onesie from Grammie and Papa glows in the dark, though :P

Anyway, this morning, she was in a pretty good mood, such a good mood that she peed on me before I could get her into the bathtub... :) I guess making it nine months and only getting peed on twice is pretty good :p

Now that volleyball season is over, I guess I go back to being the housewife that I was before hand. Josh will probably be happy for that because even though I wasn't very good at it, I at least got the laundry done throughout the week, unlike durng volleyball season. I was never good at having dinner ready, anyway. I'm just not really the housewife type, I dont think. While I love being home with Aurelia all day, I enjoy the away time from the house.

While there were many good things about volleyball season, the best would probably have to be the fact that I have improved in the game enough that my husband enjoys playing on my team now. After two years, we have something we can do together and not fight about. Thats an accomplishment. I really do enjoy playing volleyball and kind of wish I could play it everyday.

I'm pretty tired, so I should probably get some sleep before my long weekend I have ahead of me.

Long Week...

This week has been pretty long and crazy. Starting last week on Tuesday, I got a cough and was down and out for a day or so, but then seemed to feel a bit better. This Sunday, Josh woke up with a fever, and had it for a few days, until if finally broke on Tuesday night. Monday night, we had a pretty big game for our volleyball girls... we played Deckerville, a very strong team (both 7th and 8th). It was a good night when we managed to pull off not one but two wins!

The whole week I have still been battling with a cough which I think I can narrow it down to really bad allergy stuff, but I'm not too sure. No fever is involved yet, but I have had a huge migraine all day, been super tired, and have had some major congestion. On top of me feeling worse and Josh starting to feel better, Aurelia is teething hard core, causing her be the most fussy she has ever been. We actually experienced an attitude from her tonight during the third or fourth hour of trying to put her to bed (She decided to chuck her bottle on the ground twice). I feel bad for her, because I know she is mainly just tired and frustrated and in pain, but there is only so much I can do for a little girl who doesn't want to be cuddled and rocked to sleep :(

Also, we had another game in Peck on Wednesday, and that was a rough time... I am pretty sure Satan was there waiting for us the moment we walked into that school, and in the gym, you could probably have cut the tension with a knife... It was a really rough night; the Peck 8th graders were making fun of the 7th graders while they were playing, the refs weren't really calling anything, and the girls were just off their game. 7th grade couldn't pull off a win, but despite the troubles and with a lot of prayer, the 8th grade battled it out and won. (They were pretty upset with the 8th grade Peck team for making fun of the 7th graders, so they weren't just playing for themselves, but also their future teammates!)

On top of all that, this week has been emotionally tough for me. I feel like Satan has been feeding me a ton of lies telling me I am not good enough of capable enough in many areas of my life. I'm really struggle with my workout times and being consistent, and not eating junk, and I know that Satan uses that as a HUGE attack area. I feel like its one of the only things he has left, and if he can keep me from working out and feeling good about myself, that is the way to do it. I haven't been able to work out in a couple of weeks because I have been sick and taking care of my family, and I think that is why I have had such a hard time with it all. Satan is getting into my head, but I need to tell him to back off, because MY GOD IS BIGGER. And always will be on my side.

Please pray for our family to get healthy, both mentally and physically so we can fight off Satan in our home and in this community!

Should I Trot?

In college, when I got sick, I think I actually took advantage to it, because I didn't really have responsibilities and I could just let my profs know I was sick and then not worry about anything until I got better. Now things are a lot different; being sick brings on a plethora of frustrations: not wanting to get the baby sick, not having energy to clean or workout, not being able to go to practices and/or games. And sleep is hard because the kitten is crying or the baby is crying or if they are both sleeping, everything I can't do is swimming around in my head, keeping me awake!

Whew. Okay, I got that off of my chest. The good news is that Mucinex helps with the coughing and hacking, and helps me to feel a tad more human. Also, Marvin is the cutest kitten ever, and loves to play with Aurelia, which makes me feel better that she has a playmate when I don't want to get too close to her to share my germs.

So here's the REAL issue: I haven't been able to do much physical activity this week since my body is tired and I have a hard time breathing, but the Turkey Trot is in a couple weeks here in Kingston! Should I still do it? I would love to be able to do not one, but two 5K runs this year, but I'm not sure if I could be ready for it. Also, Josh wouldn't be able to do it with me because it would be the morning he gets home from the lock-in... I am not sure what I should do! I used to have a turkey trot sweatshirt that I got from GoodWill. I never thought I would be contemplating on actually running one myself :P

In other news, we've had a pretty good week, although busy. Volleyball is going pretty well... I think the girls are ready to be done with volleyball season, so as coaches, it is our job to keep them pumped up, which is difficult, especially with teenage girls. But I really enjoy coaching them; they are all great kids! The 8th grade coach told her girls that if they win the rest of their games, she would dye her hair purple... I hope they win them all!!!!! :P

Fall Colors

It never ceases to amaze me every year, the beauty God creates in the fall. I will be driving to the store, or to a meeting, and I will be overcome with such joy and amazement at the majestic beauty of it all... the deep reds, vibrant oranges, bright yellows. I can't even explain the feeling I get sometimes... Its like an excitement so true that all I can do is gasp, and try to stay on the road (because usually I am driving :P) I gasp, and thank God for such brilliance. He could have just let summer turn brown and bland before the snow fell, but He chose to paint His canvas with succulent colors.

I sometimes wish it could be fall all the time, but I think I wouldn't appreciate the magnificence of the season then. Fall always seems to be a time of refocus for me -- God really makes me stop and think about just how Great and Amazing and Big He is. I could be outside for hours on end in the cool fall breeze, with the colorful leaves surrounding me, maybe drinking a hot cocoa :) With my Bible and journal, it makes for the greatest time of reflection, prayer, and time with My Father!


What do you think about the fall?

Thinking about Thinking IV

I was looking through old notes today from Facebook, and realized how much I enjoy writing. I was also noticing the responses to my writing, and then wondered why I stopped writing. I went through a pretty big writing phase my freshman year of college, and it's what really got me through the tough times. I think that it is something I should start again, because it was fun for me, and seemed to benefit others as well.

I started a series called thinking about thinking. Usually they were just free writes about whatever was on my mind. If you want to read them, you still can, because they are all still up under my notes on my Facebook page. So I decided to start that back up again, and here is number 6. Its a bit of a different style, but change is good :)

Speaking of change, a lot has happened in the last three/four years... move to MP, start college, get baptized, meet a boy, get my first boyfriend, first kiss, engagement, marriage, move in together, move to OH, move back, have a baby, marriage, be a mom, coach volleyball... whew! I never thought that this is where I'd be today, but alas, this is where I find myself: a small rinkie-dink town that no one has ever heard of serving Jesus and teaching teens about Him. But it always makes me wonder, what are my old friends up to? Where are they now? Are they still following Jesus? Do they remember me? The girls I coach were trying to guess my age. They thought I was 26. That was a lot younger than the 8th graders thought I was... 28-34... I thought to myself, man, I'm only 22 and feel like life is flying right by me! I can't imagine what I'll feel like at 34.

What are we doing with our lives, anyway, are we serving the one true God or serving ourselves? The time we have on this earth is so precious and so limited, do we spend it watching TV and playing games on the computer? Or maybe we are always texting. Thats not much of a way to live, if you ask me. I admit that I spend way too much time on FB, and I am working on it, I think. But I want to live an exciting life, helping people learn more about God and giving all the glory to Him! Watching joy spread across the face of people who are so thankful for a warm meal, or a place to sleep.

What will you be doing when Jesus comes back? Texting your friends from your couch? Watching TV? Wasting time? That question gets me every time I ask myself that. I don't want to be on Facebook when Jesus comes back!!! I want to be glorifying Him when He comes back! Serving, reading, teaching, praying, seeking...

Life changes when you have a baby, and my life got way better. I don't know what I would do without that beautiful little girl in my life every day. I know that God can take her from me whenever He sees it necessary, so I am going to use all the time I have with her to love her, and build her up in Christ, so that she can go out and serve others and love others the way jesus did. I couldn't imagine my life without her! Every sleepless night, frustrating day and puked on outfit is worth the joy that she brings into my life. There is no greater joy to me here on earth than seeing her playing and figuring out how to do things, and getting so excited when she does! I look into her face and see the image of God staring back at me, eyes so expectant, and full of love and admiration. She loves me, although. :)

I have a lot on my mind and kind of just want to keep typing. I was also aiming for more of a creative write, but that didn't happen tonight. Just gotta go with the flow :) I am going to leave you with a video that is awesome from a very talented band, Tenth Avenue North :)

Three Days...

Today has been the third day in a row that I have worked out, and it is good. I am sore right now, but I am trying to push through it, and not let it be an excuse to quit. When I want to quit, I just think of being able to run with Aurelia and play with her as she grows up, and enjoy being young with her.

Speaking of Aurelia, she has been pretty fussy today, for her. She did NOT want to take a nap earlier today, and everything has been kind of a challenge today. I think she just doesn't feel very well, or maybe is tired of being sick. She has started to crawl now, and it brings me joy to watch her do it :P She has a weird, army like pull going on, and she also goes up on her sides to gain momentum to pull herself forward. :) I think she likes being more mobile, and is still frustrated that she cant move faster.

We have a volleyball game tonight at CPS, and I hope that we do well. The eighth grade has a great practice yesterday, and were setting up the ball pretty well, so I hope that they can keep doing that and win tonight!

I'm pretty tired, so I hope to stay awake and alert tonight. I also am praying for patience with the girls and wisdom to lead them in a Godly way. It is a privilege to work with these girls, and I hope to really use the time I am given with them :)

Feeling the Blues

Well, its been a crazy summer. I am quite amazed that it went by so quickly, but I am excited for this fall and winter. It should be a great time of building relationships, watching Aurelia grow, and having some fun. It also WILL be a time of weight loss.

This summer, I reached my goal of running a 5k without stopping, and it was an awesome feeling, being able to accomplish that. Now, it is time to get serious. It is time to actually start losing the weight that I put on during pregnancy. My goal is to lose at least 10 pounds in the next month. Hopefully it is more than that, but I plan on starting slowly. Josh is going to help me actually workout and make sure I am doing it everyday. And Jillian Michaels will be kicking my butt as well :) I hope to borrow the thirty day shred from a friend as well, so I hope that I can lose this baby weight once and for all!

In other news, coaching volleyball is a lot of fun. I enjoy working with the girls as well as the coaches! It was a surprise when I found out I was working with Sarah Squires, because we both attended His House at CMU. It is definitely a small world though, when we both end up in the tiny village of Kingston, MI :P

I think thats about it right now. Just wanted to say, I am going to actually become determined now, to lose weight.

Thinking About the Past

I can't believe that it has been eight months since I gave birth to Aurelia! It is crazy how fast time really flies by. It has definitely been making me think about a lot of things...
I guess the past has been on my mind a lot lately: people who have influenced my life and walk with Christ, how I got to where I am today, and who I was vs. who I am now.

First of all, today in church, a friend came up to me and told me how awesome it is that I have a great relationship with my mom. All she sees of my mom is her comments and things on my Facebook page. It really made me think about me and my mom. My mom - despite all the times that we fight and disagree, and get mad at each other - has always been there for me, and will always love me. She is always a friend and always willing to listen. Sometimes I like to do things on my own, and she knows (and we are learning) that I need to do things on my own first, to see if I can. Then when I find out I can't, I ask for help. I can always count on her to be there, no matter how much we disagree on a subject. Thanks, Mom :)

And then I was thinking about my first year in college, and how Dani Lauer and Katie Bennett were such an influence in my life. I didn't want to join a small group at first, but then at the Thursday gathering when all the leaders were introduced, I got pumped for it. So I did, and got put with them. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was so blessed, and they helped me work through my cutting issue, which was starting to take over my life. They will forever be a HUGE part of my story, and how lucky was I to get to live with BOTH of them the next year! I love you girls :)

Another person that came to mind was Tony Boscarino. I didn't really know Tony all that well, but he was a leader/on staff at His House, and God really used Tony's talents to impact my life. Tony was leading worship the first time I was brave enough to check out a Thursday gathering, and I never knew worship could be so fun, or deep. I admit I was a little weirded out, because of the hand raising and contemporary feel, but something about the music drew me in. I wanted to find a relationship with God that these people had, that the worship leader had. That night Tony sang "Amazing Grace", and it was the first time I realized the meaning of the song. God really worked in my life that night.
There were also a few times that I went to Tony for prayer (not many, because I usually went to people I knew a little better, like Dani or Katie) because I just felt God telling my to have him pray for me. The few times I did, Tony seemed to know exactly what to pray, even though he had no idea what was going on in my life. And all three times he prayed for fear to not run my life; for me to not be timid in my faith. That definitely wasn't a coincidence, because it was always what I needed prayer for. Again, God was using Tony to draw me closer. I am so thankful that Tony was willing to do God's work :)

And then there's Josh Hill. I don't even know where to start with how he has impacted my life. I was pretty bad at hiding my attraction to him early on; my roommates read right through me and decided that I would end up married to him before I even really knew him very well/hung out with him. Josh was the guy I always saw around campus. He was always willing to walk with you just to keep you company. He was like that with all people, so I tried to not have feelings for him, but I did want to get to know him and be his friend. That tactic worked for a while, until he started having feelings for me too :) Anyway, even before we dated, Josh seemed to always have my back. I remember one day, I was really struggling with life, and he found me sitting on a bench on campus, listening to music, and he sat and asked what was going on. He convinced me to go to class, but I wouldn't tell him anything. He emailed me to ask me if I was okay, and then a little later in the day, I saw him again, and he asked what was up. It was driving me crazy that he wouldn't go away. But God knew I needed him there. He came over that night, and just sat with me in the prayer room while I struggled with things, and he listened, and it was comforting.

And then I got to marry him. His love for Christ has grown even stronger, I think, and his dedication to God and the Word is just awesome. I learn from him every day. Even though our marriage isn't perfect, and we don't always agree on things, I am learning how to love him through everything, the way Christ loves us. I am learning to love him with an unconditional love, and with a love not based on feelings. I couldn't imagine living life without him, and I love growing in Christ with him.

A few other people that I thank God for in my life are the Sapienza's: Melissa and Tony. In high school, when she should have given me a detention for being VERY disrespectful and rude to her, Melissa decided to ask what was going on. And although I didn't know how to even talk to anyone at that time, just knowing that an adult cared and could see that something was going on was such a comfort. Looking back, I wish I would have given in and talked to her about the cutting and the pain I was feeling, but like I said, just knowing she cared was enough. Also, she didn't write me up for all the times I wasn't in class :P

Dave Shephard is another one: Dave was the first Christian that I met at college, and he was my drum major. I was SUPER intimidated by him, and I can't believe that I had the courage to ask him about church at His House. I was also super confused when he talked about it on Saturday of band camp. He kept talking about His House, but not his house, the His House his house, the Men's House. I was really confused :P I look back now and see that God gave me the courage to ask him about church. And also, I can't believe that Dave Shephard ever intimidated me! He's one of the coolest bald guys I know ;)

Okay, this is getting pretty lengthy, so this is the last group. Matt Moore, Bonnie Rae Walter and Steve Evans. FCA really helped me find myself, or at least made me think about who I really was becoming. Bonnie was such a positive person and influence, even at 7:30 in the morning :) She loved me, and thats what I needed my senior year. Steve really go an earful one night at the FCA retreat at SpringHill, and I am grateful he listened. I had a lot on my mind, and he really helped me sort through it. That was a long night, but a good night, because its the night I chose to really start living my life for God. Steve read Romans 8:38-39, and it hit me that nothing I had done made Christ love me any less. And I think Matt just decided to listen to me as well, which started our friendship going. He really helped me through my senior year as well as my freshman year at college, and being a part of his "street crew" really gave me a sense of meaning. Matt was and still is a role model to me in that he loves God, is pursuing his dream of being a musician, is a great dad and husband, and had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that Matt was put in my life, and its pretty neat to know someone famous ;)

So, its a bit lengthy, but it's what had been on my mind lately. I praise God for the people who he put placed in my path, and I pray that I can be Godly influences like many of these people have been to me.

Inspiration from a great God

First of all, I just read Kelsey's blog about Waffles [the cat and the food] and it made me hungry for waffles. I haven't had a waffle in quite a long time!

Well, things seem to be getting easier. Hmm, let me take that back... Not so much easier, just less stressful. Josh and I are really working on our relationship, and we are doing it together, and it has really been a great experience. It has really opened my eyes to what a Godly relationship should be. We aren't there quite yet, but we are definitely closer than we've ever been. It has been a humbling experience, and I am thankful for a husband who is willing to work with me and grow and change and learn. I thought that I knew how to be married, but God is showing me that there is more to it than I thought, and like I said, it is quite humbling.

Last night I was especially feeling overwhelmed with all the change that is happening. Even positive change can be hard work. So this morning, when I went out to put a letter in the mailbox, I walked out and saw the most AMAZING rainbow I have ever seen. It was a complete bow, from one end to the other, and it was so vibrant! I ran in to get Josh so he could see it :) It came right when I needed it. God uses a rainbow in Genesis to promise not to flood the whole earth again. I saw that rainbow as a promise from God, and it really made my heart and mind still. A visual reminder that God is always here and keeps His promises is a great way to keep trucking through the storm.


Today started off great, and I am determined and encouraged to keep working on things not only in our marriage, but also to keep working on myself... I did a Jillian Michaels workout this morning, and on Tuesday I started doing Weight Watchers on my own. I am happy to say that I am finally out of that plateau I was at and am starting to lose weight! Also, the running has helped me to lose inches in my thighs, which is SUPER great :) Most importantly, I am starting to feel healthy again.

Lazy Brain

That's what I think I have when it comes to running now that I accomplished my goal. It's a bad disease, really. I think it has consumed me for the last few days. But there is more to it than that. Excuses, Excuses!

So, this morning, I actually got up at a little after Aurelia and took a shower and got semi ready for the day. And then Aurelia went back to bed, and I was tired. So Josh motivated me into getting my lazy bum off the couch and going for a run. It was the hardest run I've had since I started running! I think it was more like I was flailing down the street instead of running, and if you can picture that, I am sure you got a good laugh. I think I had turned my mental motivation off and the result was super bad form and flailing.

So, in short, I am going to turn my motivation back on. I am also starting to sleep better, I think, because the stress level in life seems to be slowly but surely going down. And I have God to thank for that :)

A Vegetarian 5K

Well, the wonderful Kingston Days were this weekend, and it was an interesting time, to be sure. The church sponsored the inflatables on Saturday, and they seemed to be a big hit for the kids. It seemed as though the burnouts were a big thing as well, although I will be honest and say I didn't quite understand the purpose of it, nor did I enjoy it. The next big thing was the football game, which was the start of the Varsity's football season and a celebration of 60 years of Kingston Football. Thankfully, Kingston won 60-0.

Our garage sale didn't do as well as I would have liked it to do, and we still have a ton of stuff, but we made about $164, which I am happy about. If you need anything baby, we have new bottles, a boppy pillow, some newborn/3-6 months clothes and some other stuff. Let me know, and you can have it :P I did enjoy visiting with neighbors and friends who were walking down to the festivities. Some of them bought some things too, because they were hanging out and chatting with us.

The best part for me, though, was definitely the 5K that kicked off the weekend on Thursday night. As many of you know, my goal was to run a 5K by the end of the summer without stopping to walk. I heard about the Kingston Days run, and figured it would be a great time to run, because the starting line was right down the road, at our church! I decided to do it, even though I was exhausted, and I was very pleased with the outcome. I had a good time doing it, for the most part, and I was so happy that I accomplished my goal!
The best part is that not only did I accomplish my goal of not stopping, I wasn't the last runner and I finished under 37 minutes. My finishing time was 36:58. That is a little over three 12 minute miles, and I was super happy with that, because the last time I ran three miles, it was around 37 minutes, maybe a little over. Oh yeah, and I also received a medal! (It was a small race :P)


So, I need to make sure I am getting out and running as much as I can before it starts to get to cold to do it, and I always feel better when I do. And now I really know that I can, so no excuses :P

Also, you didn't have to be a vegetarian to run the race, but Josh and I have decided to try and cut meat from our diet for the time being. It has been interesting so far, and last night, the dish we made was actually quite tasty. We are only doing it for a change of pace and for a different type of diet... We are also not being super strict about it, so if we come over to your house for dinner, don't worry about having no meat. We will probably eat some if you make it! Our goal is to do it more at home, and then eat small amounts if necessary or available.

Please keep us in your prayers. God is working in our lives right now, and while He is making us stronger, it can be a difficult process.

Awesome Girls Weekend :)

So, I am back to the normal grind of life after an awesome experience in Indianapolis at the Women of Faith Conference :) Thanks to Booksneeze and Thomas Nelson publishers, my friend and I were able to get tickets for free. With free tickets and free lodging (thanks to my friend's father), we were able to have an awesome weekend for super cheap.

As I said in my blog before I went to the conference, I was a little bit unsure about being around 7000 women at a conference with mostly all women speakers. To be honest, I didnt think I could handle all that estrogen! But after the first speaker, Sheila Walsh, spoke, I realized that this would be just what I needed.

The line up was incredible. Women like Sheila Walsh, Angie Smith, Nicole Johnson and Lisa Harper who were not afraid to be themselves and be open with us, woman to woman. I had come expecting these women to be somewhat fake and tell me that I'm beautiful, can do anything I set my mind to, and that would be that... The same ol' same ol, but I got a totally different experience!



These women not only shared their personal testimonies, but they also lavished us in their knowledge of the Bible, taking stories and teaching them in a way that made me feel connected to the people of the Bible. They also made me look at these peoples' lives in a totally different way, and I realized that they weren't so much different than I am.

Also, they did let a male speaker in, and I am very glad that they did. Dr. Henry Cloud opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking, and helped me to realize that things I have been feeling or thinking weren't just me being crazy or delusional. I have forgotten who I am, and the conference really helped me to realize that I can't just let that go, that I have to be proud of that person and not let people make me into something I am not.

Overall, I think that the conference helped to re-establish my hope in God; that no matter what I'm going through, or where I am at, that God is not too big for any of it, and He is here through the fiercest storms. I just have to listen and look. I am so very thankful for the speakers at the conference, and for BookSneeze for giving me this opportunity to find hope again. I was so close to the breaking point, and this conference came at just the right time in my storm.

I hope to have pictures up soon from the conference. We didn't get many, but we got a few, and hopefully they show our great time that we had!



Thanks to Booksneeze and Thomas Nelson Publishing for this awesome experience!

Women of Faith Conference 2011

So, thanks to booksneeze.com, I have the privilege of going to Indianapolis this weekend to attend the 2011 Women of Faith Conference. I am not exactly sure what it will be like, but from what I read on the internet, it is a lot of women coming together in a big field house to praise God, listen to speakers, and have their faith rejuvenated.

I entered to win tickets a while back and then kind of forgot about it, until I got an email from Booksneeze saying I'd been chosen to attend. They gave me two tickets to the conference plus lunch for each day. I think that it will be a good time with a close friend, some much needed girl time, and a great break from the everyday life of changing diapers and cleaning up spit up. (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE spending each day with my beautiful baby, but every mom needs a break sometime!) Another great part is we only have to pay for gas and minimal foodage, because my friend's father got us some free nights at a hotel with his frequent hoteler points.... or whatever they are called :P

So here's to a good trip and a time of growth and worship... I will be blogging about my experience when we get home on Sunday, so you can read all about it to see if you want to go next year :)

Thunder Dog

The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero


A story of inspiration and excitement, this book is a great read from the beginning to the end. Michael Hingson and Suzy Flory tell of Michael's decent from the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center after a plane crashed into it on September 11, 2001. The book is not only about Michael's decent, but it also tells the story of his life growing up blind. Hingson's main point of the book is to raise an awareness for people who are blind. Hingson talks of how being blind is not a disability and how the blind are capable of doing almost everything that the seeing can do.

The book also includes extra things such as a dictionary of "blind words" and resources to learn more about the blind. I enjoyed learning more about the blind community as well as all the technology that is available to help blind people participate in everyday things. I also enjoyed learning more about seeing eye dogs and the amazing work that they do. I would suggest this book for dog lovers, people interested about what happened on 9/11, or people interested about the blind community. Over all, it was a good read that was also educational.

I received this book for free from booksneeze.com.

Crazy Good

Running three miles without stopping, for me, was a HUGE milestone in my running journey... I can't believe that I actually did it! I mean, I thought I could, but knowing I did is a pretty great thing. I feel like many of my walls that I had put up or that I was facing have been completely knocked down, and know I could run anything I set my mind to.

While it wasn't a fast run, it was still three consecutive miles... My first mile was REALLY hard! I think that is how it has been this week, or anytime I run. The first little bit is always the hardest! I think it took me like, 14 minutes just to run that mile. But then I hit the corner to turn on to mile number 2, and I was super motivated! The nice thing about running way out in the country is that there is nobody out here to here me when I have to motivate myself to keep going, or when I get super excited about the first mile and about the next one!! A little bit in to mile 2, I got into the mode of 'I can run all night'. I felt good, and had found my groove, which was a good feeling. I had started praying at that point, just praying for people in my life and things going on in the world, all while praying for God to get me through the second half of the run. Then my iPod died! I was pretty sad, because it was helping me stay in the groove, but I realized it was a great time to be out in the beautiful country that God created talking to Him.

I also felt a pulled hamstring from softball tightening up at the end of two miles, and I have been dealing with my right foot going numb when I run, and it was like pins and needles in my toes at that time, so I prayed for God to take away the pain. That third mile was pretty awesome, because I was running by my grandparents' house and my uncle's house, and they were out in the barn, so I had my own little cheering section! It was just what I needed to finish out strong. Also, my mom was on her way to my grandma's and drove behind the last .2 miles.. I felt like one of those super awesome runners that run across America and stuff :P

Anyway, it was an awesome experience and it has given me confidence and now I know that I truly can be a runner and I can do things if I set my mind to them. And so can you! I am excited to see where God is taking me with this running thing, and I am excited to feel healthy again. Yay!

Oh, it took me about 37 minutes to run three miles, I think. I thought it would take a LOT longer than that, so I think I will be happy with three miles at about 12 minutes per mile!!! :D

Mission Accomplished

As many of you know, and as I keep letting you know for accountability purposes, my goal is to run a 5K by the end of the summer.

Josh left for a YFC mission trip today, and he will be gone all week, which means Aurelia and I get to visit family in Clare and Mecosta for the week (yay vacation!!). We left Saturday evening, and have been enjoying our stay thus far. It was really great because Saturday night was nice for running, and I went the furthest I have gone yet! Also, it was out in the country on sand/dirt roads, so it was a bit more challenging and hilly than it is back home in Kingston.

It was such a good feeling to know that I finished what I had set out to do... which was run further than I had before at one time. My last distance was 1.85 miles in 24:20. This time I ran 2 miles in 24:53! That is about a 12:26 minute mile, but those numbers are just to help push myself to do better and go further and faster. Anyway, what a great feeling to know that I could run 2 miles! It is also good to know that even though I am on vacation, I still can have the discipline to keep 'training' and to keep getting healthy!

Also, Aurelia went swimming, and abosolutely loved the water! She was splashing and talking and sqealing for quite a while with us in the pool! It was a lot of fun; today is another action packed day with Mommy, Grammie, and Great Grammie as we head to Mt. Pleasant for a girl's day out!

Good Morning Sunshine...

Literally. So I have been planning to run since Tuesday, and because of the heat, I just haven't had the courage to do it... even after Mr. Sun went down... So last night I said, "I'll just run in the morning after Aurelia wakes up and eats"... I was thinking it would be cooler. Well, I did run, but it definitely wasn't much cooler at 8:00 in the morning than it was all day yesterday... at least when running is concerned, it didn't feel like it was! I give many kudos to people who run in the heat... especially to that guy who ran across America in weather like this :P

While the heat and humidity brought a new aspect to my running adventure, it felt good to finally start running again since I had my wisdom teeth removed 13 days ago. It was also a nice change to run in the morning. Since I'm already up and awake, it makes it easier, and I feel accomplished already, and it isn't even 9AM yet!

I still plan on running a 5K this summer, but I will definitely have to get used to at least some heat, since I will probably be running a race in August... I think it would be awesome to have lots of people running it with me. I will keep you posted on when and where it will be. And if you've never run one before, or have never run before, or are just starting, don't let it intimidate you... God made us all to be able to run, and if you put your mind to it, you can do it! We don't have to run fast, and we don't have to run with perfect form, we just have to run! Because its good for us :)

Alright, time for Aurelia to lay down for her morning nap :)

Starting back up...

Today is the day that I am going to start running again... I am going to wait until later though, when the sun is going down, because it is SUPER hot out! I am a bit nervous, because it has been about 12 days since I have run at all, so it is probably going to be a hard run, but I just have to get this one over with so that they keep getting easier. And I won't ever finish a 5K if I don't run until the event... that would just be an ugly sight!

So, I am in this thing to finish it out -- to become a runner, or at least to become a person who can run for more than five yards before I get tired... :P It is also becoming an awesome way for me to trust in God in another aspect of my life. Trusting in God isn't the easiest thing in many different areas of life, some of the hardest for me being finances and self confidence. I remember when I finally figured out that I could run for more than a minute without being completely winded and out of breath, and it was such a great moment that I had to glorify God -- there was simply on other answer for it! So, as I keep trucking on, I remember that I am doing this for God, to make this temple stronger for Him, physically and mentally.

Oh, and also, as some of you know, I am part of a book blog, and when I post a book review on my blog, you should read it and rate my review. You can rate it right from my blog! That way I can keep being a part of the book blog and I can get free books. If you like to read and have a blog, you can join the blog too! Just email me and ask me how :)

One more thing: I am super excited for dinner tonight... I am making broccoli and cheese stuffed chicken breasts with rice and zucchini on the side!! Mmmmm.

5K Bound..

A few weeks have gone with no update on my 'weight loss journey' that I started a little while ago, so here is an update. But first I need to address and change the name of this journey. I was talking to Josh last night and realized -- remembered, really -- that while losing weight is important, the most beneficial thing for me is to feel healthy and in shape. So with that said, I am trying not to focus too much on weight loss right now, and am focusing more on running. I guess we can call it My Running Journey, or something that like that.

I have come a long way in just a few weeks, but as is life, I've had a major setback. Let's start from last week, though... I think Josh and I did a good job of running every day that we were supposed to... We missed our Monday run, but because we were at the cottage, we took advantage of all the different styles of cross-training there and went kayaking, biking and swimming. Thursday I ended up going for a run on my own because Josh was pretty tired from working so much, and it ended up being an awesome run! I was a little apprehensive because I knew that Josh was a major motivator for me on runs, but I ended up running almost two miles without stopping!!! I praise God for that run because now I know that long distance running is a possibility if I trust in Him and put my mind to it.

On Friday, I had to get my wisdom teeth removed, which was the roadblock to this exciting journey... I haven't run since Thursday. I am excited to get back to the grind though, and I hope that it can be sooner than later... my mouth is healing, but it is still sore when I run. And this week has been pretty hectic too... We've had four softball games already, and the Pigeon YFC Auction is this Saturday, so Josh is working long days.

So, I plan on starting running as soon as possible, but I think it might be Monday before I can. Oh, and my goal is to run a 5k by the end of the summer, and I feel like that goal is in sight! I've run close to two miles, and with God, I know that I will have the strength to run three :)

Thanks to all those who have been a blessing to me throughout this journey... all the encouragement really keeps me moving forward toward my goal.

The Final Hour

The Final Hour by Andrew Klavan is an exciting, action-fiction book that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire book. The last book in a four book series, Klavan wraps up the story with unexpected twists in plot and memorable moments. Klavan does well with building up the story and then giving the reader an over-the-top ending.

Even though this series is an action series geared toward teens, I really enjoyed this book and would suggest the series to anyone looking for an easy read that is exhilarating and suspenseful, yet not to gory or scary.

I received this book for free from www.booksneeze.com

Lilies in the Moonlight

"Lilies in the Moonlight" by Allison Pittman is novel about love and second chances. Set in the times after the war, Lily is a girl who, while trying to make money for rent and living, meets a family that shows her about acceptance, love, and what it means to do the right thing. It is a nice story that you will capture your heart and will teach you something more about life.

I really enjoyed reading "Lilies in the Moonlight" and I would suggest it to other readers who are looking for a light and relaxing read. Pittman does a great job building the characters and setting the plot for the story.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah.

What a life we live!!! :D

I guess there has been a lot going on in these last few months, and the summer isn't any less busy! Josh and I have been going through a lot personally, trying to figure out where and how God wants us to be serving Him. God has also been teaching us both a lot in our relationship with each other, which has been the most emotionally and mentally draining part!

I can only speak for myself, so God has taught me that He didn't put Josh in my life to give me complete satisfaction. I can't look to my husband and try to get the kind of love from him that only God can give. Because when I try, I put expectations on Josh that he will never be able to live up to. Only God can give me that love that is perfect and always fullfilling. I am also learning that while part of being a Godly wife is serving God by serving/taking care of my family and household, it is not the only part. Yes, God has called me to be a wife and a mother, but that doesn't mean that that is ALL that He has called me to! God has great plans for me, and I have been putting God in a box and not letting Him show me just what I can do! Josh and I have realized that whatever we end up doing and wherever we end up, it will be a place where God can use both of our talents to glorify Him. If we are truly following and seeking God, then we will end up where we are both doing some things that we enjoy!

Finally, Josh and I have been experiencing exactly what God can do in our relationship when we put Him first. We get along better, and there is more of a realness to our relationship! It still isn't perfect, and it never will be, but it is getting better every single day we decide to put God first.

In other news, God has been teaching me about commitment lately, and its been for a while now. Our pastor did a sermon that talked about commit and not quitting or something like that, and it has really stuck with me. I have been much more intentional about following through on things, not just when I commit my time or efforts to other people, but also to myself. For instance, running. I have told myself that I am going to learn to run, and that I am going to run a 5k. So I am going to do it. It was hard at first, especially because I never thought I would be able to learn how to breathe while running. But I have overcome that hurdle, and am now running 1+ miles at a time! (For the record, the last time I did that was in 10th grade) And it feels so good!!

Aurelia is getting so big! She just turned five months, and I have a feeling she is going to be mobile very soon! She is rolling over onto her tummy and onto her back, and she is such a happy baby! She loves her play seat that Grammie Ricolo and Great Grammie Bay bought for her -- she spends most of her day in that... and she seems to really enjoy being outside. Daddy wants to take her camping but Mommy isn't quite ready for that yet :P Next year for SURE!!!

I ask for prayers for our ministry situation -- for us to keep seeking God and that He would guide us to where we are going to be, whether it is where we are at or in a different country.

The Blessing

John Trent wrote "A Place Called the Blessing" to help people relate to the message of his relational classic entitled "The Blessing". It is the story of one young man's search for acceptance and love in a world where he has only known hurt and rejection. Josh grew up moving from foster home to foster home, separated from his two older brothers, the only people he felt safe with. They ended up in a children's home after Josh was the cause of a terrible accident. After Josh's older brothers were adopted, he was left at the children's home until the day he turned 18. His search for love, acceptance, and trust starts as he learns how to survive in the world on his own.

"A Place Called Blessing" is a book full of emotion and truth. Trent incorporates the five elements of biblical blessing (From his previous book, "The Blessing") into the story quite well, and also includes a chapter by chapter study guide in the back of the book so that you can more deeply apply the elements to your own life. I personally enjoyed the story of Josh and his brothers, and I would recommend this book to an individual looking for a good read/devotional as well as to a small group.

I received this book free through www.booksneeze.com

The Barbarian Way

I just finished reading a book titled "Unleashed" by Erwin Raphael McManus. I have to admit that in the beginning, the book didn't seem to catch my attention. The author seem to be we writing in circles around what he was really trying to get at. But then I realized that I needed to pay closer attention to what I was reading.
This book, which was previously released as "The Barbarian Way", is a book about living the way God intended us to live. Our society tends to offer Christians a nice and easy, safe and carefree way of living. McManus points out that the Bible doesn't and never has called us to that. In fact, the bible calls us to be Christ followers, which means trusting in God ALWAYS, even when we don't know where He is leading us, or what His plans are. 'Unleashed' is about finding your inner barbarian and going against what this society says we should do but seeking Christ instead.
McManus offers a simple read with challenging content in his book. He urges and encourages us to change our hearts and mindset to that of the barbarian way. If you are looking for a life changing book that can make you feel more alive*, I would recommend this book for you.

*You must decide and commit to the change before it can actually take place in your life. The way to do that is to commit EVERYTHING to God, and to follow Him fully, no matter the cost.

I received a free copy of this book through booksneeze.com

Work out? What!

So, it's been a while since I have written a blog covering my weight loss journey. And to be honest, so far, it hasn't been going too well. The hardest part is definitely the diet -- or should I say, what I am consuming (because eating healthy is not a diet... its normal!). I would like to chalk it up to the fact that these last couple of weeks have been hectic and stressful. These two things together are never good, especially for an emotional eater, like myself. But I can't sit here and make excuses about why I am not losing weight, because to be honest, I think that working out and eating healthy are two things that would help me deal with the stress better than a dozen peanut butter cookies would. :P

Current weight: 181
Goal weight: 150

So, here's the plan for this week:

*Get my eating back on track
*This has been going well the last two days, and I already feel better for it!

*Do physical activity every day
*This has also been going well... I have done push ups and sit ups for the last two days in a row (Which Josh is helping me with) and Josh and I are also on the
church softball league, which helps me stay active each week!!

I really would like to fit into my summer clothes this summer, because I am super excited about the sunshine!!!!!

Raising Up Children

The book "Secure Daughters Confident Sons" by Glenn T. Stanton is an information packed book about raising our children in a healthy way. He talks about how to bring our children into adulthood in a way that makes them independent and confident in who they are, even when this society tries to tell them something different.

Stanton breaks the book into two parts; Part 1 is about boys' and girls' needs and how to help them grow into healthy adults. Part 2 is aimed more at why our children need mothers and fathers to grow up confident and secure.

Being a new mom myself, I enjoyed reading about the differences in boys and girls, as well as the different roles moms and dads play in their childrens' lives. The author writes clearly and in a way that is understandable. I would suggest this book to any new parents, parents who are struggling to bond/communicate with their children, or couples thinking about having children.

I received a free copy of this book through Waterbrook Multnomah publishing company.

Week 3

Well, last week has been interesting to say the least. But I managed to lose pounds and gain a ton of God-given patience!

previous weight: 183
current weight : 179

Last week I also went for my first run of the summer, which I thought was going to kill me. But, thanks to my wonderful, supportive husband, I got through it running more than I thought I could! I don't even think we ran a mile, but it surely felt like 3 miles (oh wait, I have never run 3 miles at one time EVER :P). Josh has been really helpful and great to me, encouraging me when it gets tough and helping me to not eat everything I see :P

This last weekend, we did the 30 Hour famine with our youth group, which is where the patience from God comes in... the biggest challenge for the adults was getting the kids to be respectful and to listen. There were many times we wanted to throw them into a pool full of sharks, but thanks to God and the other adults, we all made it through, and it was quite rewarding! We ended up collecting a TON of food, water, and blankets for a food shelter in Saginaw, and we also did some road clean up here in Kingston!
Here is part of the stuff we collected :)

So, I am doing a thirty day challenge this month: walk a marathon in 30 days. In case you didnt know (because I didn't know, exactly), a marathon is... 26.2 miles, I think. So that is my challenge this month is to walk that far in 30 days. I have gotten on mile down already! ( I started yesterday) I didn't walk today because it was really rainy and cold out, too cold for the baby to be outside, but tomorrow is mile 2!

Week(ish) 2

Here we are, week 2 of my weight loss journey, and I haven't really done much.

The FACTS:

previous weight: 183
current weight: 183

Well, I haven't really done much to make a change... It has indeed been difficult getting motivated to get started, but I didn't really set many goals for myself last week, either. Also, with Easter being last week, it was difficult to control my eating... Josh and I were not at home from Thursday to Saturday, and that makes a huge difference in the way that I eat! Because at Grandma's house, there is always sweets and soda... some of my favorite things!

This week, my goal is to be active for at least thirty minutes a day, starting today. Josh and I are going for a run today (Which means a power walk for Josh... I am not a strong runner, and he is very supportive and helpful! A couple times when we've run before, he would jog a mile with me while I ran, and then he would go run a few more miles after he dropped me off at the house :P)

In other news:

This weekend, our youth is doing a 30 hour famine. They have been raising money this month for the organization called World Vision, to give food to those who don't have enough. Then, this weekend, we all come together for 30 hours and fast, to give them a feeling of how it is not to eat for more than a day. Its a pretty cool event, and I am pretty excited for it!

Aurelia is getting bigger each day: She is probably close to 12 pounds now, which is very exciting. She is 3 months old today! And she is practically all grown out of her 0-3 month sized clothes :) She is starting to hold her head and shoulders up when she is on her belly, and I am sure she is very close to rolling from her belly to her back. Oh, and I think she is going to learn to giggle pretty soon!!!

I am looking in to getting my four wisdom teeth removed, and if all goes well, it will be happening this next month. I have kind of been putting it off because I am a bit nervous to be on strong pain killers while taking care of Aurelia, but I know that the sooner I get it done with, the sooner I can go on with life! And besides, I know that there are a ton of people willing to help out with Aurelia and other things while I recover :)

That is most of the newest news from Kingston... God is good, and we have been so blessed and are blessed every single day :)

Some encouragement for the week: Keep on pushing yourself every day, to be better than the day before. And finish strong -- God is with you and He will be your strength if you let Him :) Because, well, God is AWESOME!!!

A New Me... Or Something

I feel like a lot had changed in my life in the last two and a half years... Started dating my first boyfriend, first kiss, got engaged, got married, moved out of state, moved back to MI, got pregnant, had a baby.... yeah, its been two and a half pretty epic years... :P

In the midst of all that, I joined weight watchers and lost about 16 pounds, and lets be honest, I gained so much confidence in myself with that weight off! Well, I gained it all back when we moved to Painesville, and then getting pregnant added some extra weight on top of that. I was pretty self conscious during pregnancy, and while I lost 30 of the 40 I gained after Aurelia was born, I still carry that extra weight. And now you are probably wondering why I am telling you this, because this kind of information is usually pretty personal stuff, and I would never usually share this on a public blog. On the internet. Where ANYONE can read it.

I've been watching the NBC show "The Biggest Loser" lately. If you've never seen it, it is a pretty inspiring show where 22 very obese people come together and lose weight. They have personal trainers, and while many people think that their diet is handed to them, they actually cook and make their own meals and snacks. Anyway, the last nine contestants alone have lost over 1,000 lbs in about 15 weeks.

This motivated me. These obese people stand up in a sports bra and spandex shorts in front of America and get weighed on a HUGE scale. I guess that is one way to get accountability! This is why I am writing this. From here on out, I would like to try and give you weekly updates, revealing it all.. eating habits, weight losses and gains, frustrations... everything! My goals are within sight, and I want you all to be able to hold me accountable for my actions, so that I can get to said goals! Just by typing this blog, it holds me accountable because now you all know my secrets! :) I will also include pictures throughout this whole process, to show progress!

So here are the facts:

CURRENT WEIGHT: 183 (just before I had Aurelia, I was 213!)

GOALS: First Goal: Pre-pregnancy weight (173 lbs)

Here are a few starting photos of myself...The top on is my trying to be all dramatic like the people on the weight loss info commercials... It was fun :P

This is Your Brain in Love by D. Earl Henslin

In this book, Dr. Henslin explains his research on how the brain works in love. He takes love to a scientific level by exploring the different regions of the brain and how each area affects the way we love. According to the Dr., there are "five brain imbalances that effect a person's ability to be the best partner he or she can possibly be in a marriage". The book breaks each of the five (The Scattered Lover, the over-focused lover, the blue mood lover, the Agitated lover, and the ancious lover) down and explains not only what makes a person a certain type of lover, but also what that person and their spouse can do to help make changes to correct the imbalance. Each chapter starts with a small quiz for the reader to take, to see which lover category they fall into.

While this book was not my normal choice of book to read, I enjoyed learning more about the brain and how its imbalances can affect love and relationships. I enjoyed taking the quizzes to see which type of lover I am, as well as having my husband take them to see which type he falls into. Upon choosing the book to review, I believe it to be more about physical love. I was surprised when I started reading about different parts of the brain and how each affects the way you emotionally love someone.

I think that this book was full of interesting information, and if you are curious to see what type of lover you are, or are looking for a way to make your marriage stronger, this would be a book to consider reading -- It will help you to understand the way you love and need to be loved, and if your spouse is willing to read it with you, you can work through both of your love types together :)

A New Beginning

I can' believe that Aurelia is six weeks already. It is amazing how fast this last month has gone by! As she continues to grow, I continue to realize the significance of her in our lives.

First of all, I couldn't even imagine our life without our beautiful daughter now.... It just wouldn't seem right. Second of all, I wouldn't want to. The presence of Aurelia has made me strive to be a better person: She has helped me to learn patience and a selfless love, to see beauty in things where beauty is hard to find (example: I never thought I'd see the day where I celebrated a dirty diaper, but after three days of no poopy diapers, it is the most beautiful thing!), to take care of myself.... the list goes on and on. But one of the biggest impacts she has had on me is how she has changed my heart, and my purpose for life.

It used to be that I was just living life with no real purpose or direction. I was serving God, or doing my best to do so, and just going with the flow. For the first time in my life, I have a direction, and that is to REALLY serve. I've always heard stories from friends and strangers alike about how God had 'broken their hearts' for a certain type of people... poor people, teens, AIDS sufferers... but I hadn't really ever felt a true calling to help any certain type of people, in any certain place. (Many friends have had a calling to pursue certain careers as a way of serving Gods people as well) I just felt like I was wandering through life not really knowing where I would end up. Then, God decides to tell me to marry Josh (I was okay with it... I found him to be pretty cute :P)

That was challenge 1. Then we got pregnant, which became challenge 2. Josh has always had a passion for overseas missions, and while I found that enticing, I wouldn't say I was ever passionate about it. Until challenge 3 came about -- parenting the child that was growing inside of me. And thats when it happened. Taking care of Aurelia opened my eyes... This child is totally dependent on Josh and I... especially on me... I have what she needs to survive -- food!

Around week two of Aurelia being here with us, she had to go on formula, to get rid of the jaundice, and since I was trying to nurse, I ended up having to pump for the week so I wouldn't lose the milk. Well, I didn't do the best job pumping ( I didn't think I had to stay on her feeding schedule in order to maintain a steady supply of milk) and that led to me producing less milk.

The next week was when God truly opened my eyes... I went to nurse and couldn't produce enough milk for my baby to get full! Not being able to provide for my precious child was one of THE worst feelings I had ever had, even though I knew that I could just hop in the van and get some formula from WalMart if it was absolutely necessary. But even worse than that feeling was the one that I had in my heart for all those women in other countries who cannot provide for their children not because they are bad moms, but because they don't have the means. God broke my heart for these women who struggled daily just to keep themselves and their children alive. And thats when I realized it.

This is what I am supposed to do. This is my passion -- to help women and children survive, whether is it providing clean water, or food, or shelter, or just loving them -- this is what I should be doing with my life. And suddenly, two passions arose in me like a wild fire: Overseas missions to help women and children any way I could.

My life now has more than one purpose: To help these women and children somehow, and to raise my daughter in such a way that will show her just how big this world is. To raise her knowing that God will provide, and that all we have to do to make a difference is to answer the calling from Him. No matter what He asks us to do, He will provide everything we need.

These are just a few of my thoughts, and they are a bit jumbled. I will save the rest for a later date :) I am loving life right now, and I couldn't be more happy. Being a mom has changed my outlook on everything, and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Praise God for my beautiful daughter!

7 whole ounces :D

Aurelia has been doing well this past week :D At the doctor, she weighed in at 7 lbs, 6oz, which is great! She hasn't seemed to be a very fussy baby, but since we don't have anything to compare her to, I guess I am not sure. It is exciting to see her start to grow -- She is starting to look around more (Its so cute when her little eyes cross from trying to focus!) and she is staying awake during the day a little more. She is also starting to make cute little baby noises!

Josh and I are doing pretty well, and I feel like we are getting more sleep, for the most part. While we have had some rough moments due to stress and lack of sleep/mis-communication, we are doing our best to take everything to God and to not get frustrated at each other over silly things (Its a good thing Josh is patient and loves me... I tend to be pretty emotional post-pregnancy!)
In the hospital, I had to watch three videos before they would let me leave.. one on breast feeding, one on Shaken Baby Syndrome, and one on postpartum depression. Before I had Aurie, I figured it was a real thing to have to think about, but didn't think that I would have to deal with it. Well, it has definitely been something I am struggling with, and it is a bigger deal than I thought. The good thing is that my relationship with God is at its strongest point these days, and I know that I couldn't get through the tough moments without Him! Satan likes to use my weak moments to pressure me into old habits, and in those moments, I see the love of God more strongly than ever :) It is definitely a major battle at times, but God is good, and so are the people in my life. I just have to remember to let them in.

Gracie is doing well... she seems to like it here, which is good, because we really enjoy having her around! She is such a good cat, and its nice to have someone to cuddle with when Josh is having his 'Daddy time' with Aurelia. She had a swollen gland thing in her neck when we got her, and that has pretty much gone down completely. The only thing we are working on getting healed are the sores on her face, which she keeps scratching at and making bleed... I think they would go away if she just let them heal, but she keeps scratching it because it is itching...

Cold Weather

Last night, Aurie got to go to her very first sporting event... we went to the Girls Cass City Basketball game last night :) The Varsity team won, but we didn't make it for any of the JV game. We got to see some girls from the Cass City Missionary Church youth group as well, and they invited us to come watch their production they have coming up in March.

Aurie seems to be doing well, for the most part. She had a WIC appointment last night, and she weighed 6 lbs 15 oz, which isn't the best, considering she is supposed to be gaining weight, but I think it is from all the spitting up/puking she has been doing lately. I am hoping that the doctor doesn't put her on formula today.. that stuff is smelly! Other than that, she is doing well.

The last few nights, she has been pretty fussy at night, leaving Josh and I pretty tired out. We couldn't figure out why she was fussing, until this morning when Josh came to wake me up... I went into the living room and it was SO COLD! The thermostat read 64 degrees! I think Aurie was having a hard time getting to sleep because she was too cold. (She would sleep fine if she slept on Josh, but she wouldn't stay in her bassinet... which makes sense now :P)

The back of our house is a lot warmer than the front of our house, because of the big window in living room, so we moved Aurie in there, and she is sleeping much more peacefully now, thankfully! I can't wait until it starts to warm up, just for the sake of our sleeping :P

I am getting pretty ready to start working out feeling more in shape than I am now, but I know that I am still healing and probably shouldn't anything too strenuous. I was shocked yesterday at the appointment when they weighed me and I was close to 30 pounds lighter than I was the week before I had Aurelia... That was SUPER encouraging! I know that it will be difficult to lose weight and get into shape, but I have a lot motivating me: I want Aurelia to know what it means to be healthy and to have healthy habits; I want her to know that it may take work (especially if she gets more of mom's metabolism), but it is worth it; I want to be able to run around and play with her as she becomes active; I have a wonderful, supportive husband who I can't wait to be able to keep up with when we hike or run or whatever it is that we will be doing!; God is a pretty big motivator as well... my body is a temple, and I can do His work much more efficiently if I am healthy!

It is a lot easier blogging when I have something exciting to blog about :)