So Thankful...

What a day it has been! I am sitting here, stomach full of turkey, dressing and a baby (who has LOVED all this food), watching my precious husband watch football. To put it simply...I am thankful! God has graciously blessed us with much more than we deserve.

A few things I am thankful for...(my list could go on and on)

...a Savior who chose me, adopted me and saved me from the wrath I deserved
...a husband who loves me more than himself, serves me, and who is my best friend
...a precious baby boy that I am carrying, his daily hiccups and kicks, and the fact that I have been chosen to be his mommy
...a family who is quite simply the best, they love unconditionally and support without end
...friends who've become like our family, who pray for us and encourage us daily


I have been told to "stay off my feet" - which has been quite the challenge, so we took it easy this Thanksgiving and just went to my moms. We had a delicious meal and sweet time with her and Dean. She goes above and beyond and truly has a servant's heart! She's pretty amazing and I hope that I become that kind of Momma to William!

Some Turkey Day fun...

 Grey didn't make the trip - but he decided to get in the basket with Molly's food and bowls.

Couldn't resist taking this picture!

 Molly girl and her football - she loves a ball!

 Taking a break - and started to eat the ball.

She will eat ANYTHING!

 Our last Thanksgiving as a family of two!

 Enjoying the HOT weather on Thanksgiving morning.

Almost 34 weeks!

 Dean getting the lizards off the door - with the gutter drain! :)

 Running out of room - especially after all that I ate!!!

Fall foliage....can't wait for William to jump in those leaves!

 The boy and his dog

 

Showered with Love

This past weekend some dear friends in Troy hosted a baby shower for me and William. We had such a great time and received so many wonderful things for the little guy! I am so thankful for the friendships God has blessed Bryant and me with here! We have such a great group of friends and I am thankful that William will be able to grow up around so many people who love him already! Here are a few pictures from Saturday...

 The precious door hanger the hostesses gave me!

Delicious food....

My friend, Leslie, made the adorable banner.

One of my previous student's mom made this cute diaper cake...so creative!

William's presents...so thankful for his stuff!

Bit, one of my college roommates, and her son, Ellis.

Hostesses

Some of my very best friends - my bible study group.

Leslie, me, Megan and Holly

Holly is due Dec. 31st with her sweet baby girl, Reese.

Never Thirst

Covenant Grace has partnered with NeverThirst to adopt a village around the world and provide clean drinking water to these villages. It's amazing what this organization does...they not only provide wells that bring clean water, but they also use this resource to share the gospel to these people of all nations. Our hearts desire is to see the nations bring Him glory and we are able to participate in this project and help meet the needs of His people.
Check out the link below to learn more about NeverThirst or to donate.
If you check out "Our Story" under About Us, it's pretty awesome to see how this ministry came to be!

http://www.neverthirstwater.org/covenant-grace

Let all the peoples praise You...

I am sitting here in the quiet of my comfy home and God's truths keep ringing in my ears. We have a cookout today for the new church plant and since I have been feeling under the weather I decided to stay home. With Bryant gone and the animals asleep, my thoughts keep coming back to the things the Father has shown Bryant and I over the past several months. We are dealing deeply with what it looks like to live a "radical" life. We've been reading this book by David Platt, Radical, and what God has chosen to show us is life changing. We know the things we are learning are from Him alone, because we are seeing them in every area of our life. Bryant daily ask himself and me, "Are we being hated by the world?" At first thought, it seems like a rough question...but if you look to the truth, we are told if we follow Christ the world will hate us. Now, that alone has rocked my world. I am a people pleaser by nature and desire to make everyone feel "good" - I have been shown that it's not my purpose in life to please people..but the Father alone. We have been called out of our comfort zone in so many ways...but it is soooo rewarding. We CAN'T and WON'T turn back - because we have no where else to go, but with our sweet Lord.
We, and I mean me, have taken for granted what I have been blessed with. I often found myself asking, "why me God...why do Bryant and I have jobs in this crazy economic time? why are we able to pay the bills when we know so many who are struggling to make ends meet? why was I chosen to live in America with the luxuries of running water, electricity, beds, cars, a comfy home when there are people around this world who are dying from just dirty water?" These are things I had a hard time understanding....until I read Psalm 67.
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations."
I am humbled to put it simply, I have been BLESSED so that I can make Him known among ALL nations. We aren't taught that in our sinful, deprived world...we are taught to get more, make more, live better, etc. However, we have been given these things to bring God glory, not to store them up here. How amazing it is to know that the Father provides so abundantly for me and my desire has become to give it back, to meet the needs of His people, to make Him known throughout the nations. It is harder to do than say, especially when we live in a world that so often traps us in the "things of the world." I think about this precious child I'm carrying...I want him to grow up with the desire to bring glory to the Father, with a heart of meeting the needs of his neighbors, with the thoughts of giving away his time/money/things rather than gaining them. To be successful is not something I want to be called in this world...rather I want to be a servant in the kingdom and I desire that for my husband and son. I pray that one day this precious little boy comes to me saying "I want to risk it all to know my Father and bring Him glory...I want to go where He has me to go." Now, I am typing this with tears in my eyes because my desire for these things is so strong, and I can't wait to be able to tell him to "go, follow your Father!"

We are at the point in our life of asking what does it look like? Our desire is not what this world has to offer. How will we meet the needs of His people? How do we make Him known among the nations? What will it look like in my daily life? How do we teach William these truths when the world tells him otherwise? I think, well I know, that people will question us and why we will do the things we have been shown, but the gospel is radical, it's life changing and it's time to have our lives changed according to the Scripture.

Platt wrote this, "You and I both have a choice. We can stand with the starving or with the overfed. We can identify with poor Lazarus on his way to heaven or with the rich man on his way to hell. We can embrace Jesus while we give away our wealth, or we can walk away from Jesus while we hoard our wealth. Only time will tell what you and I choose to do with this blind spot of American Christianity in our day."

Sorry for such a long post, but my heart's desire is to share these truths and I tend to write better than I can speak! :)

For more info on Radical  go to: www.radicalthebook.com
David Platt is a pastor at The Church of Brookhills in Birmingham.

Nesting

Well, I have been bitten by the "nesting" bug! We have only 50 something days left and reality is setting in! Yesterday I woke up not feeling great, the weather/season change has my allergies askew...but I was determined to get some things done. I am happy to say baby William's nursery is ready, with the exception of hanging some pictures on the wall! I also got all of his clothes, blankets, burp cloths, sheets, etc...washed and ironed! Molly LOVES socks and can pick them out of a basket of laundry within seconds....so I did quite a bit of chasing her around the house yesterday, she went crazy with the baby socks! Yesterday was the first time I didn't hate doing laundry...I'm blown away at how "small" his clothes are and can't believe how soon he will be spitting up on them! :)

 Taking off tags....notice my helper :)

We have been BLESSED with plenty of clothes for little man!

This past Thursday I was out of school, so I had a project in mind to complete! Again, this nesting thing is almost getting out of control! :) I had a coworker tell me she was up at 2 am cleaning the stove/oven, I haven't gone that far....but it could be right around the corner! ha! Anyway - I needed to get lamps for the nursery and a night stand. I added a touch of the houndstooth that I have fallen in love with to both the lamps and table. I used alot of fabric glue...BUT, I did pull out the neede and thread! (*if you ever come over, please don't look at either too closely!)
Here are my projects:

 

Little Foote

It's that time again....the annual Little Foote cookout was Saturday night. Bryant, Morgan and Mr. Ronnie have been part of this hunting club for years...and this is about the only time you will catch the girls there! We enjoyed some yummy food, the kids had a hayride and finished the night roasting marshmellows. This becomes home away from home for the boys from November to January.  I am so thankful they have this time together, and look forward to William growing up there with his daddy, uncle and grandfather.

 The Little Foote

 Bryant and his dad

Mr. Ronnie loving on the "littlest foote"

My favorite fella'

Trying to stay warm by the fire...it was CHILLY! 

 There's nothing better than roasting marshmellows!

Bryant agrees :)

 The Yarbroughs
(yes, those are Christmas lights and deer antlers...gotta love the men's decorations)

Aloha!

Bryant and I have both been blessed with awesome, loving families! So here I am, a proud sister...needing to brag a little! :)
My brother, who I would consider one of my dearest friends...just graduated with honors from AIT training with the Army. He and my precious sister-in-law are now headed to....HAWAII!! He will be stationed there for 3 years and I am already in the works of trying to plan a trip. Trying to decide how soon is too soon to fly with a newborn!?!?!

Army life is something I definitely believed you are called to. I have seen Brandon and Autumn grow in so many ways and trust the Lord for their next steps through this process. I am amazed at how well they have adjusted to this lifestyle and I am so encouraged by them both.They have such an incredible opportunity to  impact this world!

We recently bought a video camera so that every second of William's day could be recorded and sent to Hawaii! :) Get ready Unc and Aunt Albie....

ALOHA!!!

 Brandon and Autumn

My brother, the soldier.

A little of this, a little of that...

I can't believe how fast October came and went! We have been so busy that it seems like it was truly just a blur! I am so excited that the holiday season is upon us and glad things are (maybe) slowing down for us!

Last Wednesday, Mrs. Sis and her sweet friend Sam came and put up William's curtains and changed some light fixtures for us! Sam made the curtains and they are just PERFECT!!! They also brought his chair...I find myself there daily sitting in it. There is something so peaceful about his room, and I love to think of the many times I will have with him in there singing to him, praying for him and rocking him to sleep! I get so excited about him making his debut!

Last weekend...Halloween...the Covenant Grace plant team met at our house and we passed out candy, hot chocolate, info on our church plant and the good news and love of our Father. We were all a little anxious about doing this, since it was new territory for us all, but it was truly a blessing. We saw the need of Christ in our communities and neighborhoods....and realized we have to go to these people and stop waiting for them to come to us. God is so faithful in His works and we were able to talk to so many people that night. 

Sunday, Bryant left for Talledega with his dad and brother...needless to say, this preggo stayed at home! :) It was definitely a guy's trip! The girls went last year, yes...we went to Talledega, and decided in the car on the way home that would be our last trip! However, I am so thankful that Bryant had some time to enjoy with Mr. Ronnie and Morgan!

Here's what has been going on...

 We couldn't find Grey one night....this was where he was! I had B's sleeping bag cleaned for the hunting club, Grey ripped a hole in the bag and climbed right on in! He makes himself comfy wherever!

 Little guy's curtains....they are chocolate and white houndstooth! Gotta love the Tide! :)

 I look forward to many hours in this chair with my little guy!

 William's sweet room!

 Bryant grilled fish (that he caught on his annual fishing trip with Murphree Bridge) and had a fire for us last Friday night! We love the times on the deck....just hanging out and LOTS of share time! :)

 First fire of the season....notice the lighter :) We moved the lighter fluid out of the pic! ha!

 30 weeks and GROWING!!!!

Halloween at the Yarbrough's

 Sweet boys, Metz and Eli with B.

 Probably the cutest thing ever, Miss Audrey.

 I think Eli ate just as much candy as he passed out! :) He was so excited to give the little kids candy...he has such a serving heart!

 Metz was strapped in his stroller most of the night....he tends to wander away :) He wasn't happy about this and I turned around and he was taking off clothes! He is by far the funniest child!

 Brooks was in charge of hot chocolate and water distribution! He did a great job....again I think he drank as much as he gave out! :)

 The guys....B, Rett, Rob and Metz, and Matt.

 Pruitt showing his muscles! :)

 B looking a little tired....this was after 3 hours of trick or treaters!

 Tucker sneaking into the candy basket!

 Rett and Audrey playing with play-doh. This picture made my heart so happy!

Amanda and me after a long, but fun night!