On Being a Mom. And, Josh Groban's new video ;)

It's amazing to think that our little Aurelia is almost a year old. It feels like yesterday that I was sitting on the couch when I went into labor for her. Its also amazing how much I've grown right along with her....

I absolutely love being a mom. I know it has its challenges: delivery, lack of sleep, screaming babies, teething, diaper explosions... the list could go on and on. But all of that is worth it when she reaches out for me after being away for a day, or lays her head on my shoulder, or looks at me with her big blue eyes....

Being a mom has taught me so many things, but the main one is patience. Aurelia is getting to the age where she is starting to whine when she doesn't get her way.. That is probably my biggest pet peeve (even with the teens... its like nails on a chalkboard for me!!) I admit that I can be quick to lose patience, especially when I am tired. But I am learning that first of all, she doesn't know how to communicate with me yet, so I have to teach her how. And I have to show her lovingly, the right way to do it.

Which makes me remember this: God has entrusted me to raise her up in the way that she should go... but He also knows that I can't do it on my own strength. Remembering this helps me to gain the patience I need at 3 in the morning when Aurelia is just fussing because she wants something she doesn't need, or when she is tired but wants to be with people so she wont go to sleep. I remember that God is in control, and God is in me, which means when I just let go, He will take over.

And then of course, I love being a mom because it is SO MUCH FUN! I could watch Aurelia play all day -- the little faces she makes, the way she learns things so quickly, and the way she laughs :) I am so thankful for her in my life.

I think of what life would be like if I had never had a baby. It would have been a lot different, maybe easier at times. I would have more free time to do whatever I wanted to do without having to get a babysitter. But I don't care. The person I am now is a much better than the person I was then... I have grown so much, and I would never want to go back. I have the most beautiful daughter, and the most wonderful husband, and great friends. I would trade my free time for that any time :)

Oh, and here's the Josh Groban video I promised! Also, FYI, Groban is also working on a new album.

Official Business... We're Moving!

I guess it's official... Our family will be moving sometime this year back to the good ol' Pleasant Mount (Mount Pleasant).

Here's some background info: When Aurelia was there in the hospital with pneumonia, it was a big eye opener for Josh and I. We realized how much we love it there and how much we thrive. We both really enjoy the college atmosphere as well as ministering to college aged people (technically that is our age group still!). So, we started praying, because we didn't want to this idea to be our own -- we wanted to make sure it was of God.

I will admit that at first, while the idea sounded good to me, I got back to Kingston and realized just how much we have here and what we would be leaving. We have not only grown as a couple, but we have learned how to be a family, with Aurelia being born here. Also, this church family has been so good to us, loving us through our struggles and helping us through them. They have also taken Aurelia in as their own, and that was one of the hardest things for me in leaving: Taking Aurelia away from a wonderful, loving church family.

But for some reason, God just kept telling me to trust Him that this whole Mt. Pleasant idea WAS of Him, and not of me. We decided to seek some Godly counsel from people we love and respect as Christians, and felt like we were doing this for God, and not ourselves, so we decided to finally bring it up to Josh's bosses. After talking to the Pastor and his wife about it, we felt like this was really where God was leading us, even though it would be very difficult.

Tuesday night, Josh talked to the church board about it, and last night, we had to break the news to the teens. It was probably one of the hardest things I've done in a while. I realized just how much God has been using not only us in their lives, but mostly them in my life. I realized just how much they mean to me, and how much I am going to miss them.

But with that said, we still know that God is going to use this move for good... I am excited for the possibility of having some teens up in Mt. Pleasant for a weekend and for keeping in touch with them to hear about their lives. While this will be very difficult to leave, God has shown me that He has been using us here to plant seeds in hearts, and to help seeds grow. I will be leaving here knowing that God is in control of Kingston, and that He is going to provide these awesome teens with someone who loves them a lot!

I am also sure that God is moving us to use our experiences/talents to help college students grow closer to Him. I am excited to start that part of our journey as a family, in Mount Pleasant! Thanks so much to everyone who has been a blessing, and who has been praying for us -- your prayers mean a lot to us!!

We love you all :D