Entering the Final Stretch - Hello Third Tri!

Elephants are pregnant for 22 months! That sure puts things in perspective!

In just eleven weeks, maybe sooner, maybe later, we will be meeting our baby. It's hard to believe we are through the second trimester and officially in the third. Though this pregnancy is dragging in many more ways than it is flying by. I'm ready to meet him, I'm ready to start our new life, I'm ready to have our family together and on a vain note, I'm ready to have my body back. :) But there are still quite a few more things that need to be put into place and more importantly, as my nephew now says, the baby is still cooking. As eager as I am, I want him to stay right where he is until he is "all done".

The Icing on the Cake

My niece Jaliyah loves icing and thanks to her grandfather she was able to sneak lots of it from her dad's birthday cake.

Going for the icing...

Lucketts & Jeetin'

A few weekends ago Dustin and I each spent two days doing separate activities. We usually do everything together and so it was a little bittersweet but it's good for us I know!

Dustin and a group of guys went jeetin', which is basically jeeping but my nephew's version of the word makes it sound cooler. They went to Rausch Creek which consists of mud holes, trails, rocks and mountains. They camped out, some of them had their first MRE's (prepackaged army food which stands for meals ready to eat), and they had a blast taking their jeeps through all kinds of mud holes and over large rocks. Definitely a fun guy's weekend away but this girl is hoping to go along next time. :)

Mom's Surprise Birthday Party - Part 2

Click here to read Part One

We took a ton of family pictures especially of Malachi, Courtney, Jaelynn & Jaliyah. Check out the family photo album. :)

Mom and her kids

Mom's Surprise Birthday Party - Part 1

For the first time in the history of my mom being, well my mom, my family was able to surprise her. She almost always picks up on surprises and has an idea when something is going on. But this year we were able to pull off a surprise birthday party for her. The plan was they would be in town to drop my brothers off at a church event but I called and asked my mom if she could please stop by and see the baby's room as I was really anxious for her to see it. They would stop by and then we would go out for dinner. But the reality was she was coming over for a birthday celebration. The best surprise of all though was that my brother, Malachi and his family would be there. They were moving out of state and it would be the last time for quite awhile that we would all be together.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Life has been hectic lately and now that summer has arrived it is really starting to pick up speed. We've been busy getting things ready for the baby. Our latest accomplishments in that area being creating a baby registry, sorting through a billion 15 or so boxes of baby clothes from my sister-in-law, which are finally put away! You honestly could not walk in his room, evidence listed below. Dustin also refinished a cedar chest that will be used as the baby's toy box. The room is almost complete and this kid seriously has the coolest room in the house. He's so spoiled already!

Taken on my phone so poor picture quality

Passing the Torch

My blog, in a way, has become a place to record the things we are dealing with, at least on the surface. There is a depth to starting a family that no one really tells you about. There are many fears, uncertainties and things to figure out, so many that quite honestly I am not sure I could publicly share, but the biggest thing is realizing that we are not just starting a family but God is entrusting us with souls. The responsibility of this weighs on my heart heavily and has caused me to reevaluate what I believe and how much I believe it. I know that if my faith is not firmly established I cannot expect my child to carry on the torch of his Apostolic heritage and form his own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Or if he does, the torch won't be passed on from his parents. That is a sobering thought.

Dustin and I are Christians but we consider ourselves Apostolic. What we believe is based on the Apostle's doctrine which was preached, taught, experienced and lived by the apostles as read in the book of Acts. We both grew up in homes where our parent's instilled this in us; we attended many Sunday school classes, church services, youth rallies and events that confirmed these teachings. But most importantly our faith is backed up by our own personal experiences. I will never forget the morning I received the gift of the Holy Ghost. As a nine year old I remember calling on the name of Jesus and becoming so lost in His presence that I forgot where I was and was focused only on worshipping Him. I remember realizing later that service had ended and I was the only one left with the exception of my parents and Sunday school teacher who were right there praying with me. And I remember being baptized in the precious name of Jesus and feeling so good. I remember thinking with my childlike mind, that if I felt this good I wonder how really bad people felt! You cannot replace or excuse those moments where God steps in such an awesome way, where you realize you are saved by His grace. It amazes me that even though I was a child who many would overlook, God saw me as His child and filled me with His spirit and cleansed me from my sins. He saw something in me and I don't want to let Him down.

It is so important to me that the torch which carries the Apostolic flame, sent down from heaven on the day of Pentecost years ago, continues, especially through my children. This flame is based on the revelation of knowing who Jesus is. That "the Lord our God is one" (Duet. 6:4), that "He is Lord and besides Him these is no saviour" (Isaiah 43:11), and that His name is Jesus. It is based upon the plan of salvation that Peter had the opportunity to share in Acts 2:38, to "repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." And it is based on separation from this world, in our speech, our attitude, our dress/appearance "because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy." (I Peter 1:16). These are Biblical doctrines meant to be believed, clung to, lived by and passed on. These are Biblical doctrines that have been revealed to me, I have experienced and have saved and kept me. It is my constant prayer and my greatest desire that by the grace of God, these truths will be passed on to my children. And I know He will help me, for "this promise is unto you (me), your (my) children and to all that are afar off" (Acts 2:39).


"But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
II Timothy 3:14-15  (NKJV)


Pictures courtesy of Google Images