Snowy Days...

This weekend was a little crazy. We ended up in the emergency room with Evelyn, she had a fever of 103.5! The doctor thinks it is just a virus, so we are doing the tylenol/motrin thing. She was up a lot through the night last night, but has been better today.

What a beautiful day it was! It snowed just enough to completely cover the ground, it was a winter wonderland! The snow inspired me, so I turned on Christmas music this afternoon, pulled out my magazines and cut out the Christmas recipes and crafts I wanted from them. I also did a little online window shopping :)

Then, I got some snow from our front porch and let Evelyn play with it :) She had a lot of fun!

After that, my mom came over to visit and after she left I started working on dinner. While I was getting dinner ready, I put Evelyn in her high chair with some cheerios and juice...and after a while I noticed that she was being very quiet...this is how I found her

then her cup fell over and...

I had a good day, and I am really looking forward to my personal challenge this week. I am calling it:

"It's Not About Me" Week

Our sermon yesterday was about fasting, and it got me thinking about surrendering my life to God. I am going to be fasting some (I'm still nursing), but I am fasting in other ways too. Just overall giving up my 'me' time to spend in prayer. It is also a reminder for me to do things for others. I will update you about how I am accomplishing this each day...

Also, these are some choclate pumpkin cakes I made this weekend...I <3>

Enjoy You Day!

Emily

Making my Heart-Home A Haven

I must admit that today did not start how I imagined. My plan for getting up at 7:00 for devotions, was deterred by the fact that I was up at 5:50 with my "not going back to sleep" dear daughter. She did eventually go back to sleep and I was able to have my devotional time, but it just wasn't my plan...funny how we can get so stuck on our plan.

I have been thinking a lot today. With this whole idea of making my home a haven, I began thinking about making my "heart home" a haven as well. I thought about all of the things I am storing in my heart that are not necessary. All of the clutter and even messes that are taking up space in my heart home. What if I did a clean sweep of my heart, and allowed Jesus to make a heart a home...a haven? I find myself allowing so many bad attitudes and frustrations, old hurts and even some new wounds to take up residence in my heart. I can just imagine Jesus trying to see the desires of my heart through the piles of anger and dissapointments.

Heavenly Homemaker,

Make my heart your home today.

I am a work in progress, but today

begins my heart-home remodeling!

Give me the strength to dispose of

what I need. Give me Your eyes to see.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am in charge of the Christmas Program at my church. This year, we are doing a program that I wrote called "A Snapshot of Christmas". It is about a "perfect" family Christmas photo, and how maybe the family is not so perfect after all. What would life be like through anothers eyes? They will find out and because of the manger they will all see what Christmas is really about. I am very excited, but I always stress myself out with these programs by the end. This year, I have decided that I am not going to let that happen! I am going to delegate better and remind myself that I am only one person and can only do so much! I spent the evening yesterday at the church working on the music for the program, and I finally feel like it has all come together.

Well, as for today, my list is short because I am heading to my mom's this afternoon:

* 2 loads od laundry

* Master Bathroom

* Guest Bathroom

* Work on Evelyn's baby book (much needed!)

Enjoy your day :)

Emily

Making My Home A Haven :)

I recently found this blog through my friend Jenna > homespunheart.blogspot.com

It is a great blog! I have so enjoyed reading it, and this week decided to jump on board with what she is doing! It is all about making your home a haven through cleaning and organizing. Some areas of my home are in desperate need of this! I really struggle with this sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I keep my house clean, but really just on the surface, the cupboards, drawers and closets could use some help!

It is a strong desire of mine to have a clean, cozy, inviting home. I want people to stop by anytime and my house be welcoming to them. It is also important to me that Ben feels like he is coming home each day to a place where he can relax and not feel stressed by a mountain of dishes or piles of laundry. I try my hardest to obtain this, but there are days when I let things go, and before I know it, I have a whole day of catching up to do!

Monica, the author of the blog, has really inspired me to start my day the right way, waking up with the Lord. Spending my time with Him before Evelyn wakes up and the day gets started. This is a challenge, because as you new moms know, we value our sleep! This morning, I awoke at seven and Evelyn was still asleep (she is fighting a cold and was up about 4 times through the night, ultimately ending up in bed with me), and instead of doing what I know I should have, I turned over and slept for another hour. I was so mad at myself once I got up, because then it was too late, Evelyn was up, and the busyness of the day had set in. I still had some devotion time, but it was short and interrupted often.

So tomorrow, my goal is to wake up at 7:00 for my Jesus time, and to get an early start on the day! Today, here is my to-do list:

- unload, reload & run dishwasher
- finish 2 loads of laundry
- sweep, mop, wipe counters, dust
- straighten up Evelyn's room & put clothes away
- start on my closet (the abyss)
- disenfect toys

Well, there's my ramblings for today...enjoy your day :)

<3
Emily

Breastfeeding in the 21st Century...

Our ancestors nursed their children, it was their only means of feeding their babies and a beautiful bonding experience. I cannot imagine what they would think if they saw me today: Nusing my daughter while talking on my cell phone, texting, checking my email and watching Oprah. Not to say that the bonding part isn't there, it certainly is. But let's be honest, how boring would the hours upon hours each day spent nursing be without these modern technologies? I enjoy nursing and rocking my daughter to sleep at night, but during the day I am busy, and often nurse her while doing a million other things.

Another thing that might shock our ancestors...How we can breastfeed our babies without a breast! Or as my neice calls them...doobies! I can pump my doobies and express about 4 ounces of milk in fifteen minutes. I have the ability to leave my daughter for more than a few hours, something our pre-pump sisters never experienced. How great for new moms to able to experience a little freedom and still feed their babies their nutritious breastmilk.

How about those nursing bras and shirts? Or nipple cream? Or a boppy? I am sure the women of old had their own little concoctions, but you can't get more convenient than a flap in your shirt that keeps you completely covered. Or when those nipples are cracked, a little cream from a tube does the trick. Arms getting tired? Just rest that baby on the boppy. My favorite...the pacifier! If my daughter didn't have it, she would be permanently attached to my breast.
I love breastfeeding, it was certainly a wonderful decision, but I have to be honest...you can call me spoiled... I'm glad I'm a 21st century mom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On another note...I haven't updated in a while. Evelyn is now 7 months old. She crawls, eats crackers, pulls herself up, throws tantrums and laughs a lot! She has quite the little temper, and I can honestly say that gets that from her father! Oh and we are in still in the waiting...but on the upswing I think?!? I am so looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas (49 days!). It snowed here last week, but now it is 70 degrees outside :(

I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies yesterday. Has anyone ever noticed how you can make the same cookies a million times and they always turn out a little different? Well, mine did. Ben loved them, but they weren't my best. Well, I am off to the usual...cleaning the house!

<3
Emily

Faithful...

Thank you Lord for being Faithful to me. Even when I don't see it, I know that you are faithful in it all. I have been thinking of a song I wrote about two years ago. I had a friend go through a difficult time, and during it she said "Through it all, I want God to find me Faithful". So a few years later, I was thinking about that, and this song just came...

Faithful
He promised that He would never leave
She knew the truth, but still refused to believe
She cried at the door as he pulled down the drive
She looked at her children and she willed to survive
She planted her feet and she stood up tall
She cried, God of Joseph, through the fall...

You will call me Faithful, OhOhOh
Faithful One, yeah yeah
You will call me Faithful, OhOhOh
Faithful One, yeah yeah
I will not bend, I will not break, I will not leave
I will not waver, will not run, I will be free, faithfully...Faithful

He felt like the walls was closing in on him
He'd run so much, there was no place to begin
The doors kept on shutting and confirming his lot
How could he provide and be the man that he ought?
He wondered how much longer he could stand
He cried, God of Job, I need a helping hand...

Chorus

She felt like her life was falling apart
A barren womb and an empty heart
The doctor said that he'd done all he could do
She's lost so much and all she wants now is you
She fell to her knees before your Holy throne
And cried, God of Sarah, make my heart a home

Chorus

that's all I wanted to share...

<3
Emily

Photo Shoots, Apple Orchards & Ambulances <3

So I have had a busy few weeks. A couple Sunday's ago, we had a girl from our church do a family photo shoot. It was great, and are definitely the best pictures we have ever had!

Courtesy of Challen Brown Photography :)

Last Friday I went to an Apple Orchard with my mom and some friends. We had apple cider and cookies and picked apples. It was kinda chilly, but it felt like Fall...So I loved it!

Afterwards, we went to Olive Garden for lunch, and after we finished eating, my 3 year old neice, Ellie, had a scary episode of some sort, where she was unconscious for a while and complained of her feet tingling?!?! We had to call the squad and it was a big ordeal! As far as they know, she is fine, but it was definitely very strange...I am continually praying that it will never happen again, or that God will show us if it is something more serious.

*Here is Ellie*

As far as the rest of our life goes...well, Ben is still seeking another job, and I am still searching for nanny opportunities. I have been amazed at how God always comes through just in time, so we just keep trusting! Well, I am off to bed. Goodnight :)

<3>

Power Outages & Sick Babies!

So...we had an insane windstorm from Hurrican Ike, and now everything is without power! Ben has not had work for 2 days because the center has no power...300,000 people in Franklin county are without power. My parents roof is a mess and there are whole trees down everywhere. Thankfully, we actually do have power (since I am on here, lol!).

Evelyn has a cold. We have all shared it in the family. Ben had it, then Evelyn and me! This is the second cold of her life, and the poor thing is miserable. She can't breathe out of her nose...it's sad :(

I am still looking for job...I keep finding these amazing opporutnites, and the family will contact me and then it seems for one reason or another it never works out for one of us. I know that God is control, and we have to just keep trusting.

There is a God who loves me
Who wraps me in His arms

CRAVE...

So this Sunday Night we are starting a Modern Worship Experience at our Church. It is going to run for the next 6 weeks. I am really excited about it. We had practice Thursday night for it, and it went really well. We are doing some awesome songs, and just exploring Worship through all of the senses and through different avenues (art, dance, food, etc.). Ben and I really feel like this kind of service is our calling...so we are excited to have the opporunity to do it.

are you feeling broken? wounded? joyful? complacent?

. CRAVE . Sundays . 7:30pm . CCN . C-Town . USA .

Rescue Me!

So, our house is a sauna...Our central air is broken. Someone is supposed to be coming this morning to fix it....but for now, it is a sauna. Isn't crazy how these things happen? Last week it was beautiful weather, in the 70's...but now that our air is broken, yesterday was 98 degrees not including humidity!



It seems like things just keep going wrong in my life. Ben and I feel like we can never get ahead. I know that God is in control, and that He never gives us more than we can handle. But sometimes I wanna say, "God, I know I CAN handle this, but I don't really WANT to!" I suppose it doesn't work that way. He will be my rescuer, just in time...



Evelyn is amazing. She is officially sitting up on her own now, and ate her very first bite of baby food this week! At first she didn't like it:

But she eventually came around...

So here is the cry of my heart...

I need you Jesus, to come to my resuce

Where else can I go?

There's no other name by which I am saved

Shelter me with grace...I will follow You...

"Rescue" By Newsong

What Up Mom-Slice?

Today Evelyn was napping and I was in the bedroom on the laptop. I heard some rustling on the monitor, and I waited a few minutes and then heard some more...so I went in to check and this is how I found her...

"What Up Mom-Slice?" She said to me as she smiled for the camera...

She had turned herself sideways and was on her stomach playing! She is getting so big!

Watch Out Gerber...Here I Come!

I made my own baby food today! I had some bananas that were about to go bad, so I had a thought. Evelyn is not eating baby food yet, but she will be soon, so I made some! I mashed the bananas, and then added some fruit juice, bagged it and froze it. Super easy and cost effecive. I can't wait to get a food processor and make more...I will post more later about my baby food making career...

Nightmare on Gum Street.....TEETHING!

So, my beloved daughter is teething...need I say more? Teething is a part of motherhood that everyone talks about, but you can never really understand. Is she teething or not? Is she going to get a tooth this week or in three months? It seems she has been teething forever. Poor thing...she is just miserable.

I am by nature a fixer...For instance, I cannot stay mad at my husband. Sometimes I wish I could, but I like to talk it out for hours until it is fixed...which Ben hates! Unfortaunately teething is something I cannot fix. Not only can I not fix it....I can't even sweep it under the rug, which, lets be honest- is what we do when we can't fix something!

Evelyn is such a good-natured baby...but we all know how it feels when we don't feel good. And at least we have the capability to know what is wrong with us! She has no idea why she is in pain, and I feel like she is constantly looking at me and thinking..."Hey! You are my provider and protector...why won't you make me feel better?" Trust me baby- I wish I could. As always...this too shall pass, I just wish I had a timeline!

So, for now, I have a baby with swollen gums, questioning eyes and an occasional smile that makes it all worth it.

Birthday Weekend!

What a crazy weekend we just had! I was in Zanesville Friday & Saturday for my grandpa's 75th birthday. It was fun, and we got to see a lot of family that we never see. Yesterday was Abbie's first birthday! Crazy!!! It makes me realize how soon Evelyn is going to be celebrating a birthday.

Speaking of which, Saturday Evelyn was 5 months old! Can you believe it? She is the most fun, silly, smart, beautiful, loving baby. She enjoys laughing, rolling, eating, smiling, pinching, biting, drooling, kicking & tooting. Here she is!

My life is truly blessed right now. I have an interview tomorrow night for a nanny job, and then another one Wednesday. We also just found out that Ben might be able to be the Manager of the community we live in, so our rent will probably be free! God is providing in ways I could not have imagained. He is faithful to complete the work He started in me. What a mighty God we serve.

On another note, my sister had an accident at worked today, and she cut her head. She has a concussion and she had to get 7 staples. So, be praying for her...

Well, I think that is all for now. Peace <3

You and I Romance...

My Romance...

photography by challen brown


Look at the way the flowers bloom for You
They want to show You their beauty Lord
Running waters dance, You and I romance


Unto You be all the glory
Unto You be all the glory


The angels dance around You
The earth it sings about You
Open up the heavens Lord
Let Your Kingdom come to earth
My praises all surround you
My soul can't dance without you
Open up the heavens Lord
Let Your kingdom come to earth

song by rick pino

multiple choice kind of life...

My husband and I have been trying to make some decisions about our future. Ben is currently an associate pastor, but his ultimate desire is to Senior Pastor. We started the process of getting a Senior Pastorate, and not long after some amazing things began happening at our church. Now, we feel like we don't want to leave, but also know that we need to do what is best for our family. Ultimately, it is about what God's will for our lives is...but how do you really know that for sure?

My dad, is a big fan of putting out a fleece to God, just as Gideon did. Well, I have put out my share of fleece's, sometimes God blows me away with his faithfulness to answer, other times I am left confused. Why do our lives have to be multiple choice? I'd much rather just have a yes or no life. I guess they wouldn't be as colorful, but sometimes the waiting is just so frustrating... So, for now, we are in the waiting...

"I am in the waiting,
That moment of my life
Where my faith and hope collide.
While my hearts anticipating,
How and when you'll move
Lord, that's when you prove
You're in the waiting too..."

Thank you Lord for being faithful through the wait, through the storm, through it all!

Prayerfully Waiting,
Emily

She did it!

Last night she slept from 11:00p.m.-8:00a.m. in her crib. She did wake up one time at 4:00 a.m. but went right back to sleep! WooHoo! Yay for Evelyn!

Crib Madness

So, this is officially my first blog post! I gave birth to my daughter, Evelyn, in March and have been a stay-at-home mom since. I love it, but I need an outlet, a place to share my thoughts.

So, to get right to it, we are trying to get Evelyn to sleep in her crib. She will be 5 months old on the 23rd and she has been sleeping in a bassinet next to our bed since she was born. I admit that I wasn't sure if I was ready for this step, but my husband was! He was excited about the idea of getting some "mommy & daddy" time at night. So, being the Godly, submissive wife(lol) that I am, I decided to give it a try. Friday night was the big night, we put her to bed in her crib. She slept about 5 hours and then woke to nurse. She usually only wakes once during the night to nurse. So after I nursedher, I just kept her in bed with us...I know, not the best idea, but I couldn't resist.

Night 2: She slept 7 1/2 hours in her crib without waking! It was working!

Night 3: She woke every 2 hours...she was teething and running a fever...so she ended up back in the room with us.

Night 4 & 5: she continued to wake every 2 hours or so...I am at a loss!

Last night I even tried the whole "bedtime routine" thing. We fed her some cereal, played for a little bit, gave her a bath, gave her a massage, looked at some books, nursed her, rocked her and put her to bed. She woke up and hour after I layed her down! She has been a great sleeper since she was born...is this my punishment for 4 months of great sleep? I feel like saying..."I promise I won't take it for granted ever again!"

We are hopeful that it will get better, or it may be back to the bassinet until she's twenty...who knows! Isn't parenting such a guessing game? I feel like if I mess it up once, it's over...thank goodness that is not the truth! She won't remember this someday. Thank goodness our heavenly Father is a much better parent than me! I am so glad He knows exactly what to do. And when I can't sleep in my crib all night, he doesn't get frustrated or give up. Lord knows, I have given Him much reason to give up on me, yet He is faithful to renew me and start fresh each day.

“The Lord’s mercies…are new every morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23

*here is evelyn....not sleeping 8^)