Joyful Recommendations: Once A Month Cooking

So on Monday I took my first stab at something called "Once A Month Cooking." The basic gist of it is that you plan out all the dinners you will eat that month and cook them all on one day and freeze them! There is a website that describes it and has some recipes.

The recipes included on the site typically have "cooking day" instructions and "serving day" instructions. While you are doing most of the cooking on one day, there is always at least the reheating bit, and sometimes you have to add a sauce or something before reheating. A lot of the meals I made also require some sort of side - like a veggie, salad, etc.

I didn't make 30 different meals, but I sure made a lot! The recipes I used from the site are bbq pork, chicken enchiladas, goulash, calzones (these came out HUGE!), mashed potatoes (a big hit with company that recently visited), chicken pie, and some others I can't quite remember right now! The enchiladas were highly recommended to me.

You can also use a lot of your own recipes, once you learn what freezes well and what doesn't! From personal experience, rice doesn't seem to do so hot!

I also made some recipes of my own and from others - sauces freeze great, so my mother-in-laws spaghetti sauce is an easy one to cook lots of and store, marinades, and we loved Megan's stuffed shell recipe, so I cook the shells, stuff them and then on "serving day" I just add sauce and bake.

I planned to cook fresh about once a week, and we usually go out to eat once a week. Knowing that along with other dates when we have plans with friends, I made meals for the rest of the nights leaving us completely covered for the month and then some since it's just Daryl and I! Due to that fact, I separate a lot of the meals in two containers or so, so that I don't have to thaw and cook more than we'll eat. That way we'll have the rest for other times. Btw, most things keep 3-6 months :) THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR THE DEEP FREEZER which makes this possible for us.

The pros of this are obvious - I don't have to spend a lot of time cooking each night which frees me up for time with my family, to serve more, to work, etc. We also spend MUCH less on groceries when we plan because I only buy exactly what we need. It limits grocery store trips which is a pro for multiple reasons in itself - I don't have to take Anna there again, I don't waste time, and I don't spend more money on gas :) Also, we eat out less and eat healthier. And last but not least, if we end up going out with friends or something last minute, no groceries are wasted because we can just keep things in the freezer for later! Whew hoo!

The cons - well, I don't have any right now! HOWEVER, it is a difficult investment at the beginning of the month, or whenever you decide to do it. You spend a lot of time choosing recipes and then make an ingredient/shopping list. I also had to spend a little bit of time making a plan for how exactly to cook. For example, I tried to chop all of the meat I needed at once, all the vegetables at once and separate them for the recipes, etc. You also spend a while at the store and then of course a whole day cooking and a few hours cleaning up as you can see from the picture at the top of the blog - that was the kitchen when I was done and I was even cleaning up some while I went!

Anna was FANTASTIC that day and I took breaks to play with her, but you may want to get some help with your kiddos if they're around. Also, plan on cooking on a day when you don't have other plans.

If this doesn't sound like something you want to do or could do at current, my other recommendation is this: when you make something freezable - a soup, casserole, sauce, etc, make double and freeze the extra. That way if you know a busy day will be popping up you can put it in the fridge the night before and then just heat it at dinner time for a quick meal! The crock pot has also been a good friend of mine since Anna has arrived, so hopefully I'll get some time this week to post some of our favorite recipes.

Please respond with your own recommendations and recipes as many brains and different experiences are more helpful than one! :)

Just for fun...



Isn't she great? Happy cooking!

Joyful Recommendations: Entertainment and Media

So often, for the sake of desiring to be entertained, people (this of course includes myself) watch things that they know aren't right, but make excuses...like, "well, it's just this one scene," or, "I would never do those things," or, "I'm old enough," "everyone else watches it," etc.

Romans 1:32 says, "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." For the Christian, we often know (whether through the Word or the conviction of the Holy Spirit) when something isn't quite right with what we are watching, but many times because we either are too proud to think we'll be affected or don't have enough courage or don't believe God, we keep watching.

In the book of Psalms David scribes this prayer,

"I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me." (Psalm 101:3).

Granted we can't remove ourselves from every wicked thing in this world, and God doesn't even want us to be out of the world, He does want us to avoid putting ourselves in places where we are being tempted to sin - especially when we are paying $7/8 to do so.

I'd like to have the gumption of David and be courageous enough to stop rationalizing and have the faith to be obedient to God's Word and flee the temporary pleasures of sin (in this case, being entertained) to have the eternal pleasure of glorifying Him and growing in holiness.

There are times, however, when we ignorantly step into a movie theatre or put one in our DVD player without expecting it to be bad and then WAM-OOOOO...a totally raunchy, unexpected image pops up onto the screen and now resides in our minds. While our minds can be renewed, these things aren't helpful. I can STILL recall images from a movie I watched in sixth grade that I would rather not.

So onto joyful recommendation #2 which is a FREE recommendation that can help you avoid situations like mentioned above....

http://www.screenit.com

or

http://www.pluggedinonline.com

Both of these websites allow you to see a general synopsis of movies and then break the movies into categories like language, violence, sexual content, etc and list the instances of those things in the movie. While pluggedinonline.org is run by Focus on the Family, is easier to navigate, doesn't have advertisements, and gives a concluding remark regarding whether or not the movie (in the author's opinion) is worth seeing, I tend to prefer Screenit's site for the sole reason that instead of having to read the instances of language, violence, sexual content, etc contained in the movie, you can just view their table at the top which says whether the language content is "none", "mild", "moderate", "heavy," or "extreme." That way you can often make a decision without even having to read what the exact scenes are which can also sometimes effect our minds and therefore our hearts. PS - you don't have to "join now", you can scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and hit, "No thanks" and see movie reviews for free.

I'll leave you with a closing encouragement to "watch" what you watch :)

"Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23

Joyful Recommendations

As I have been seeking to fulfill my role as a wife, mother, daughter, and friend with joy, I have come across some things that have really proved helpful in my humble opinion! So, for the next few weeks or so, I will be passing those things on to you - simply as recommendations, and of course, it's just my opinion!

Today's recommendation to increase your joy as a parent is...


This is a CD with Bible verses set to music. The one that is currently sticking my head is "Trust in the Lord....with all your heart....lean not on your...own understaaaaaaaanding..."

I purchased this CD for Anna and I to listen to as background music when we're playing or house cleaning or preparing dinner. It became an instant favorite in our household and I can't wait to buy the other volumes!

Daryl found the CD in the car the other day after I had been out without Anna and I caught him singing one of the songs the other day in his office without the CD which should clue you in that we love it as adults, too! It is fun and catchy, and very beneficial to our souls! It really helps us to meditate on God's Word and is so encouraging! I have been reminded of God's attributes, encouraged in His promises, and convicted in regards to priorities and obedience.

The cheapest new ones I found were at Christian Book Distributors (http://www.christianbook.com/).

Hopefully someday soon someone will package all the volumes in one at one great price! Until then, we'll buy her one at a time. We think it's worth the investment to get God's Word into her heart (and ours) in as many ways as possible - and this way is so fun!

Psalm 19:7-14

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Here are the verses/songs...

Happy joyful noise making!!!!!!! :)

Great Expectations

Growing up my greatest dream was to be someones wife (or better put - to be the love of some fantastic man's life; be preferred above others to one man; be romanced, pursued, you get the point) and then to be a mother. I can remember as a little girl wanting triplets - all girls with shiny, wavy hair that bounced and swayed as they happily skipped behind me. I of course had no idea what parenting entailed, and now if you told me I was having triplets I am sure I would immediately fall on my knees and tell God that He of course would have to give me the grace to survive that - I mean how do you nurse three babies in the same day????

Anyways, motherhood has been very awesome in many ways. I love talking and laughing with Anna in the mornings when we are all alone. I love reading books to her and watching her startled face when I move her too suddenly or make a loud noise. I love her confused face when she sits in her bouncer seat on the counter and "helps" me make dinner. I love dancing and singing worship songs to her and I love kissing her. However, to my shame I must confess that sometimes I get discontent with my life at current.

When I think of summer I think of hiking, camping, eating fabulous meals on the deck, walking around the lake with Daryl, being able to up and go whenever, vacations, parties, putt putt golf, scrapbooking, etc. This summer is different. Camping wouldn't be up Anna's ally, hiking is often difficult to squeeze in between feedings, and scrapbooking - yeah, right! Whenever we go out I have to think about when I'll need to be home to feed Anna, if I have enough diapers, and what the plan will be if she freaks out in public.

I knew motherhood would be semi-difficult, but I didn't ever think somedays I would miss days pre-children. I would never trade being a mother, but somedays I confess that I look at Daryl playing video games and in my head I want to throw books at him and say "YOU TAKE CARE OF HER!" I go upstairs and vent that I spend all day serving him and Anna and it's just not fair - why didn't God give him the milk or make him responsible for managing the interior of our home? Other times I'll be talking to a friend about how she and her husband just "duh duh duh duh duh all weekend" and I wish I could have a weekend like that.

Titus 2:3-5 says, "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, busy at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be maligned." My role is to love my husband and my daughter and to serve them - dirty dishes and all.

While I was reading in Philippians the other day this verse struck me anew...

"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." (vs. 14-15)

The word grumbling there means "thought, doubt, argument or dispute." The word questioning: "complaint, grumbling, whisper, private talk." WOW.

The Holy Spirit was so gracious to convict me! I had slipped into grumbling and questioning, doubting and disputing, and privately talking against the awesome role that God has in His goodness and sovereingty given to ME.

I have the privilege of being Anna's mother. I have the joy of being Daryl's wife. I am to delight in them, to be busy making my home wonderful and comfortable and appealing to them, and to be kind to them always - even in the midst of vacationless summers, spit up and mounds of laundry.

May God always be so generous to convict me when I forget the goodness of the role that He has chosen to bless me with and may I continue to abide in Him and in His strength to fulfill my calling with joy and vigor.

"I can do all things through Him who gives me strenght." Philippians 4:13.

Father's Day

So it was Daryl's first Father's Day! Yay!

Aren't they good looking???

We got to celebrate with the four generations - my grandparents, parents, us and now Anna! It was so fun! 

I have been so blessed to have such great "father's" in my life. My dad was and is awesome! He has always been so present and active in my life. He is a great support and just fun to be around.Then there is my hubby! He is so great with Anna and is going to make her such a confident and secure girl because he loves her so well and because he loves her mama so well! Since she has been born I have never once had to restock the diapers, the wipes warmer is always full, and somehow the laundry always gets done! :) What a great guy?

And finally there is our heavenly father, without whom I wouldn't have such good fathers in my life! I am so thankful that He has chosen to describe Himself to us as a father to help me understand Him better and that He gave me such a good father to further help me understand Him and now that He has given Anna such a good father to help her understand Him! I love them all!

Big News!!!

We have some big news in the Reynolds household...

Anna has slept through the night 3 nights in a row now! We love it! So does she. Check out our cool video of her smiling and such...It gets much clearer around 40 seconds, so you may want to skip the beginning! I hadn't turned the swing off yet :)

Reynolds Look-alike Meter

So I put in a more recent photo since she's aged so much in the past 2 weeks :) and the results changed.  We'll have to do this often :)

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Free genealogy - Pedigree

For those of you who need a humorous story, here's one:

Today I struggled to get Anna in a cute little cowgirl costume for a costume party we were attending at a friends.  The power went out once I started to get myself ready so I packed Anna up and went to leave with a wet head.  

Of course the garage door wouldn't open without power, so I woke up Daryl and he did it manually.  We got on our way (now going to be late), and then hit traffic on Tyrone Avery bc everything was backed up due to the construction on the interstate ramp towards Cheat Lake.  Anna started crying, but thankfully finally fell asleep.

We showed up 24 minutes late and there were no cars in the driveway.  I quickly realized it was Tuesday and not Wednesday.  At least Anna was getting a good nap.

I turned back to go home and hit the garage door button and heard a loud noise.  Daryl came out and said, "uh-oh."  He had locked the garage door so it couldn't open manually to bad guys :) and that meant that when I hit the power button the lock held the door mostly down and it broke the brace that lifts it up.  So now we can't get in and out of the garage.  We'll be sharing a car until it gets fixed...and all for a trip I didn't need to make.

The saga continues when I left Anna to nap in her car seat bc moving her sometimes wakes her.  When I finally woke her to eat she had this explosive bm and I felt warmth on my own belly.  I lifted her up to find her costume covered in poo on the front :)  Lovely.

So there you have it...another day in the life of the Reynold's :)  Who knew motherhood could be so funny?

Reynolds Look-alike Meter

Thanks, Ashley!  This was fun!  We have a hybrid - so they say!

What do you think?

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb - Collage - Morph

Another day in the life of the Reynolds...

We have been having more and more fun with Anna Grace as she has begun smiling and trying to communicate (just cooing, etc) and as mommy is learning things like stay home more, take naps, and accept help!

But don't be fooled, we certainly don't have things all together. Let us give you another picture of any given moment in the Reynold's home...






This is our precious one just starting to cry! We like to call her the little raptor because when she gets real mad she lets out these rapid fire yells :) My mom has a friend who thinks that it's a little mean to call her a raptor and that she sounds more like a little lamb, but Daryl and I agree this woman is merely confused and slightly out of touch with reality, bless her heart.

I have learned to deal with her crying more and we are beginning to be able to discern cries although there are still times when we look at each other and just shrug...we have no idea...














To help me cope, I looked up my Biblical responsibilities as my parent again because I needed a refresher. The only specific things I came up with were 1) to love her (the like/delight in kind of love), Titus 2:4, and 2) to reprove her when necessary and to train her, Proverbs 29. Ephesians 6:4 where it says not to exasperate your children (i.e. provoke them to anger) is referring to fathers, so when I took the picture to the left when Anna was apparently done with pictures, I figure I was doing no harm - hee hee. Just kidding. That was my last shot.

In all seriousness though, this motherhood thing has been much harder than I expected - especially when I'm lacking sleep! Anna also is having some reflux issues which means she is more fussy than I thought she would be (although infant Zantac has helped) and has more issues with eating than I expected. While my "trial" isn't much of a "trial" when you compare them to some of my friends trials or other peoples trials, it was still a trial to me that was tempting me to grow depressed at times, especially when I was trying to do things in my own stregnth and not looking to God for help and for hope (I will one day get more sleep, I will one day be able to go in public more often, I will one day enjoy more time again with Daryl...)

The biggest encouragement I received was a verse that God literally brought to me directly in four different sittings - once through a book I was reading, once in my quiet times, once in a card Daryl gave me, and once I heard spoken...

"Fear not, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

- Isaiah 41:10

How thankful I am that God loves to comfort His people and does not leave us to ourselves. Anna's thankful, too :)

Five Things

Five Things

I got this from many blogs :)

Dislcaimer: I have to confess this is hard for me because I'm way to analytical - is there really anything I can't live without? And regarding question 5, I don't really like that one because thousands upon thousands have impacted my life positively and I don't want to leave anyone out, but it forces me too (much like bridesmaids). So I'll put 5 people, but if you aren't on there and I know you, I can GUARANTEE you that you have impacted me positively in some way and that I can tell you how if you ask without even having to think very hard!

I digress...onto the survey...

1. 5 things under $5 that I couldn't live without

Lotion
Mister Clean wipes (thanks for the idea, Ash)
Thank you cards
Pens
Water - hey, I guess I couldn't live without that

2. 5 favorite movies

Braveheart
Pride and Prejudice
The Count of Monte Cristo
Sense & Sensibility

3. 5 baby names I love

Elle
Eli
Joshua
Nadia
Peyton

4. 5 songs I could listen to over and over again

In Christ Alone
Oh, How Marvelous (the new version)
Jesus, Thank You (Sovereign Grace Worship)
You're My Better Half
Tender Mercies (Enter the worship circle)

5. 5 people who have influenced me in a positive way

My family
The Campbell's
Andrea Raines
Bethany Teter
Daryl

6. 5 things that are always in my purse (okay, maybe not always, but usually)

wallet
cell phone
some type of lip stuff
trash
pens

7. 5 moments that have changed my life forever

When Becky Coburn needed help hanging posters at BHS
Meeting Ben Tuel (how I got into YL/got interested in youth ministry/made morgantown connections)
When I broke up with Josh after college (how I got to Morgantown!)
Kingsfest (where I got to know Daryl)
The night Anna was conceived :) (hey, you wanted to know)

8. 5 obsessions I have now

Hanging out with my husband
Quiet times
Worship music
Working out (although I haven't gotten back into normal routine quite yet :)
Singing to Anna

9. 5 places I would like to go

To bed for more than 2.5 hours
The Europe Tour - Scotland, Ireland, London, etc
Almost any beach
Knoxville, TN - mainly to visit Bethany
Boston and to visit the Outterson's while we're at it

10. 5 appliances or kitchen tools I cannot live without

toaster oven
ice maker
hot pads
rubber spatulas
measuring cups

11. 5 people whose top 5's I would like to see

Sarah Burgess
Lorrie Young
Steph B
My husbands
Yours!

Proper perspectives

For those of you wanting an update on baby - she is cuter than ever! She is constantly changing and we love her! She is spending more awake time after feedings during the day and is less fussy - perhaps it is dairy??? We'll see when we slowly re-introduce it. This is actually a picture from last week, but I haven't loaded the other ones on our computer yet :)


In other news, God has been so gracious to give me time daily for showers (Anna loves to sit in her bouncer seat and listen to the water) and for time in His Word the past couple of weeks. He truly is the only source of true refreshment and I've learned that other things can go before that (i.e. the dishes, my toe nails, etc).

This week I was convicted by a quote from Asaph in Psalm 73:25. It says, "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I desire beside you." This is interesting when he started his psalm confessing his envy of the prosperity of the wicked.

Jerry Bridges commented on Asaph's psalm that he learned that true contentment and the only way to out root envy and jealousy in our hearts is to be content in God. I so often mix up the whole being content IN GOD with being content IN WHAT GOD GIVES ME. Semantics maybe, but there's a huge difference there. 1 Timothy 6:17 says, "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, BUT ON GOD, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy."

God gives us much to enjoy - relationships, material possessions, relaxation, beauty, etc, but He is the ultimate joy. Romans 1:25 says that people "...worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator..." May we not be guilty of doing the same.

For me that means being grateful for everything God's given me and giving Him thanks, but not basing the level of my gratitude based on what I do or don't have or finding my contentment and satisfaction in those things. My contentment can be found IN Him and that will make all the difference. No need to envy anymore because it's not a comparison of stuff or circumstances. No wonder Paul keeps reminding us to keep our focus on God! It's so easy to get focused on all the "stuff" down here.

May your heart rest content in Him today!!!

Oh - and happy belated mother's day to all you mom's out there :)

Uncertain

Life has gotten more routine for us in the Reynold's household and Anna and mommy have been getting out more and more. Daryl and I even took a date last week without her!

However, we have been having troubles with an inconsolable baby at times and it seems to be tummy related. At first I thought she was just fussy, not wanting to sleep during the day time, but now it is more consistently after certain feedings of the day - she'll arch her little back and then pull up her knees and scream. It will pass, but then return - much like cramps.

Poor little thing! Sometimes simethicone drops seem to work, but sometimes not. We are trying to limit certain things in my diet but since the beginning I was already avoiding the large triggers - broccoli, onions, cauliflower, lots of dairy, caffeine, etc. Now I'm trying to avoid dairy completely to see if that helps. We'll see. It's frustrating being afraid to eat anything at all for fear it will make her more uncomfortable, but also knowing I have to stay nourished for my own sanity and to nourish her.

She has brought us so many moments of great joy. It is with pride I take her around with me and with joy I hold her on my chest when she sleeps. I love how she now focuses so alertly on our faces and looks so intently at me when I sing to her. I love her cute little faces and standing over the crib at night when she inadvertently smiles.

And yet I hate hearing her groan and grunt and strain over the monitor as she sleeps, indicating she's not feeling so well. I hate when she screams and screams and nothing comforts her. I hate watching her contort in pain. While it's made me love her more and be more compassionate to her, it is hard to watch your child be in such discomfort. I suppose this will only get worse as time goes by and boys break her heart and friends tease her for her long toes :)

So our baby may be developing colic. She may be allergic to something. Or perhaps it's just a short term issue - like a stomach bug. Regardless, last night while we prayed for her Daryl thanked God for His Sovereignty and I was struck at how quickly I forget - He is in control and He is good.

Today as I tried to soothe our baby, this song by Nicole Nordeman brought me to tears with gratefulness at yet another gentle reminder that He is in control and loving us...

When the sun starts to rise
You are good, so good
In the heat of the day with each stone that I lay
You are so good

When the road starts to turn around each bend I've learned
you are good, so good
When somebodies hand holds me up, helps me stand
you are so good

With every breath I take in I'll tell you I'm grateful again
Cause it's more than enough just to know I am loved (and anna is loved!)
and you are good

So how can I thank you
What can I bring
What can these poor hands lay at the feet of a king
I'll sing you a love song
It's all that I have
To tell you I'm grateful
For holding my life in your hands

When it's dark and it's cold
and I can't feel my soul
You are good, so good
When the world has gone grey
and the rain is here to stay
You are still good

And the storm may swell
Even then it is well
And you are good

How can I thank you
What can I bring
What can these poor hands
Lay at the feet of a King?

So I'll sing you this love song
It's all that I have
To tell you I'm grateful
For holding my life in your hands
You're holding my life in your hands

God sees and knows and He is good. How thankful I am to not be going through this alone!

Isaiah 41:10, "Be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

If you think of it, feel free to pray for wisdom and grace for us and of course healing for our little baby. We need His help so much! :)

ANNA GRACE!!!

I was thinking about labeling this blog something like "Laughter and tears" or "rollercoaster" because that pretty much sums this week up, but mainly it's going to be a documentary of Anna's first week in the real world!

The hospital experience was basically the worst experience of my life... After being awake all day, I was in labor for over a full day and well...ended up with a cesarean. Thankfully though, the doctors and many or our nurses were awesome, but it was rather traumatic, and do they really have to take your vitals/babies vitals every hour at the hospital and serve primarily jello? :)

However, hearing Anna cry out, even though I couldn't see her from behind the sterile sheet was AWESOME! We cried and cried! They took her directly to peds to check her out, but quickly came and got Daryl (WHO IS AN AWESOME FATHER AND HUSBAND!) to go see her. She was perfect on the charts! Praise God! They swaddled her up and while the sewed me back together set her on my chest. Beautiful. If you aren't convinced she's our child...here she is...(her eyes are looking less slanty by the day though!)

Thankfully my family (my poor brother and his wife drove in at 10am on Saturday and waited around all day for Anna to arrive) kept us pretty entertained until things got rather scary at the end. This is a great shot of Anna resting with Grandpap for the first time...
Anna got to meet lots of our WONDERFUL friends! Thanks everyone who stopped by, and everyone who sent flowers! Our room smelt AWESOME! :) And everyone who has dropped by food! You have brightened our days!

She got her first bath at home this week.
Needless to say, that wasn't entirely her favorite. Daddy didn't so much like her crying, but we got to do what we got to do, right?


Anna took her first walk this week in the jogging stroller with mommy and daddy - that was a blast! Thanks to God for a speedy recovery by the way and a great husband and great parents who were so helpful while I wasn't supposed to take stairs, lift things besides Anna, etc.

She also got to go to Wal-Mart and to a doctor's appointment with mommy. She has squirted poop across the nursery (I'm serious), enjoyed her new bouncer, and loved life in the car seat. She has been stuck with needles, and held all night!

We absolutely love her. I must confess, however, that the first week of her life was certainly also one of the most difficult of my life. I guess you can chalk it up to many things - lots of missed sleep, crazy hormones, and my own selfishness (will Daryl and I ever get more than a couple of hours together where we aren't wondering if she will cry and will I ever sleep through the night again?), and fear (is she eating enough, is she eating too much, is she sick, why is she crying, am I doing the right thing?).

But each day gets better and while I still sometimes cry over whether or not I'm doing the right thing or being so tired or missing Daryl time, I have also spent many moments crying over how pretty and amazing she is and what an awesome gift she is!

More, please!

We have a little ritual in our house that is a little silly, but loads of fun. When Daryl and I greet each other after being at work, out, etc, one person usually ends up saying, "More, please!" when the other pulls away. We picked up the routine from our niece Georgia who used to follow Daryl around the house and ask for "more, please," (only she wanted his diet coke). I personally feel that asking for more hugs and kisses is way better than diet coke, but she's four so I'll cut her some slack :)

As I have previously mentioned, I haven't been necessarily over-joyed with this last month of pregnancy. I'm ready to meet Anna, ready to quit wearing maternity clothes, and ready to have to stop wondering if I'll really get to go here or there, do this or that, have to vacuum the guest room again, etc...

To put it bluntly - I have been grumpy (noooooo, me?). I have allowed carrying this baby to become more like a burden than a gift as I focus on myself and the "inconveniences" I feel I'm facing. I have missed out on a lot of the pleasure of these final days with Daryl and I just as a couple and especially on the pleasure I first had when we found out we were pregnant, were having a girl, etc...

So the past two days I have come to God and said, "MORE, PLEASE!" More grace! It's times like these that I am reminded that I am constantly growing in debt to Him and in need of grace, and thankfully, His grace is vastly more abundant than my sinfulness. That is something to get happy about!

2 Corinthians 12:9a says, "My grace is sufficient for you..." Indeed, it is! MORE PLEASE!

Invasion...

Yes, it's true. Something has taken over my body and at current, my datebook! :) Daryl often says I have a parasite inside of me, which isn't very nice - sorry, Anna - but often makes me laugh.

For a while I thought pregnancy was cute and great - somewhere in between the vomit stage and the "I feel like a human bowling ball" stage! Now I think I'm pretty much over it. I can't wait to buy fun clothes again or be able to be on my feet all day without having leg cramps at night.

For those of you who know me well, you know that I am somewhat of a planning freak. Our calendar is up to date with my activities in one color, Daryl's in another, and ours as a couple in yet another. On the left side I have a list of what we'll be eating for the week and I do my grocery shopping only once a week. I have a hard time not spazzing out when the kind person serving me and loading items in bags for me rearranges the order - this means the produce is no longer tidy in one bag, the frozen goods are separated, etc - don't they know I arrange things on the belt in categories for a reason?!!!!

While some of my planning tactics are great and beneficial to the productivity and comfort of our home, some of it is just me not resting in and being content in God's Sovereignty.

For instance, it has caused me much distress that I now have four invitations pinned to our bulletin board that I don't know how to respond to because Anna hasn't told us when she plans to come out. I have dinners scheduled, parties we've RSVPed too and menus planned and I don't know if we'll even show up. Doesn't Anna know Daddy's work schedule could use some prior notice too? :)

But these problems won't stop once she's arrived. I still won't know exactly what size bathing suit I'll need for the summer (or if I'll even be willing to wear one for that matter) or exactly when Daryl and I can leave her to go camping, etc. I'll have to continue to wait. God, are you trying to teach me something?!!! I think so!

I love the verse in Proverbs 31 that says, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." She trusts God, but is also as prepared as she can be - dependence and obedience :) When things don't go as planned, she can laugh because she trusts her Father.

I have a feeling we may be laughing a lot around here soon!

We are so excited to meet Anna and can't believed God has blessed us with such a great pregnancy and gift!

It's Deepest Meaning

"A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:31-32).

Last night Daryl and I spent some time reading from John Piper's book The Passion of Jesus Christ: 50 Reasons Why He Came to Die, reflecting on the reasons and praying together. It was a really sweet time and one of the experts we chose to read was "Christ Suffered and Died to Give Marriage It's Deepest Meaning" (appropriate since today is our first anniversary!).

Piper shared how Scripture shows that marriage was God's idea before Adam and Eve and the coming of Christ, and how God had marriage in mind as a way to make Christ's love for his people more evident. Christ's suffering and death gave an extreme example (particularly to husbands as they are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her) for marriage and give marriage it's deepest meaning.

"Because Christ died for both the husband and wife...their sins are forgiven. Neither needs to make each other suffer for sins. Christ has borne that suffering." "Now we see that marriage is meant to make Christ's love for his people more visible to the world" (John Piper).

This year has been one of the most fun, enjoyable, and growing years of my entire life (it's true - not many can say they've gained so much weight their first year of marriage - hee hee). But in all seriousness, my relationship with Daryl has taught me tons about my relationship with God and helped me grow leaps and bounds in appreciation for God and His great love for me expressed primarily through the gospel - that Christ died for sinners.

I have grown in my understanding of grace and unconditional love. I have further learned how I can more practically love and respect my heavenly Father as I learn how to love and respect Daryl. I have further recognized God's faithfulness and my unworthiness as I experience forgiveness and freedom to be myself with my husband. God's kindness in using Daryl to lavish His love on me in millions of tangible ways has been incredible.

It is our prayer that as we continue to grow in Christ as a couple that our marriage will mirror God's love for people more and more to those around us and so adorn the gospel.

Thanks be to God for such a wonderful gift and for His wisdom in giving us such a joyful way to further experience His great love for us.

Anna's room...

I'll blog again one day soon...hopefully...

But for those of you who may be interested, here is Anna's room (mostly finished)!!!

And for those of you who are health inspectors, remember - mostly finished! And, Daryl edited the video so I apologize for my ramblings :)

Holiness attained and holiness pursued

Jerry Bridges writes a great book called "The Pursuit of Holiness" which is accompanied by a great Bible study guide. It's really been beneficial to me as I've been trying to understand what it means in Titus 2:3 for women to be "reverent in behavior." Reverent can also mean holiness and while I've grown up hearing a lot about the word, I wanted a refresher course to know what practical things I could do to actually be that way.

Jerry does a great job discussing the difference between the holiness we attain immediately upon salvation and the holiness that God wants us to strive for. One of the biggest convictions that I'm thankful the Holy Spirit has laid upon my heart (conviction/condemnation are two totally different things coming from two totally different powers, so let's not confuse the two) is that God HATES sin.

Not just "big" sins, but all sins. I loved this quote by Bridges,

"God hats sin wherever He finds it, in saint and sinner alike. He does not hate sin in one person and overlook it in another. He judges each man's works impartially (1 Peter 1:17)."

Bridges challenges the believer to grow in hatred of sin and stop coexisting in tolerance with our own sin. I was challenged personally because while I was reading along feeling as though I was doing pretty well with the topic, I realized that I'm really much better at hating other people's sins than my own. I tend to look on the sexual immorality on TV, cruelty to children, rape, immodest clothing on girls on magazine covers, etc, with hatred, but I don't respond with the same shudder to the own sin in my heart - selfishness, anger, etc.

Finally,

"while it is true that [God] accepts us solely through the merit of Christ, God's standard for our character, our attitudes, our affections, and actions is, 'Be holy, because I am holy
(1 Peter 1:16).'" Bridges

Christ has given us the ability not only to be free from the judgment of sin, but from sin itself. Pretty amazing. I hope I'll do a better job taking Him up on the offer and hope you will too because it is "for freedom that Christ has set us free (Gal. 5:1)."

Psalm 121

"I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth."

- Psalm 121:1-2

I put this picture on here 1) because I love it (namely because I love those girls), and 2) because they are a few of the people that God has used lately to remind me of the truth that God is my help and that God is able and gracious and good and trustworthy! (I say a few because many, many of you have been used by God to show me those things).

Anyways, last week the Spirit recalled that passage to my mind at a very timely instance for me! Overwhelmed with my work week, preparing to leave to help with a retreat for the high school students on Friday morning, concerned I wouldn't get everything done for Daryl for Valentine's Day that I wanted, etc, etc, I was often anxious and overwhelmed.

God graciously used this verse to remind me that HE is my help and that when He helps out, it gets taken care of!

I confessed my sins of anxiety, unbelief, frustration, and complaining to God and determined to by His grace believe His promises that He would take care of me that week and things would come together for good!

Here are some of the ways I saw Him provide:
- I had an AWESOME Valentine's Day with my husband and while getting supplies together for the retreat had to make a stop right by his office and had time (amazingly) to stop in and drop off some balloons, candy and a card for him at his office
- I couldn't find the right size table linens we needed for a special tea we were doing for the girls on Friday night and lo and behold Jackson's Mill (where we were having the retreat) had already ordered them to have there for us!
- We left a little late to set up on Friday at Jackson's Mill, but the kids bus left late and gave us the perfect amount of time to have everything set up by the time they arrived!
- I ran to Uniontown to pick up a special order I had placed for the retreat and when I went to pay with the Church credit card they said, "Sorry, honey; cash only." I NEVER carry more than a couple bucks cash (I know, I know), but I just happened to have $17 in my random places in my vehicle (the order was $16.04).
- I got just enough sleep and didn't get sick! Whew hoo!
- I had friends (like above) praying for me and a great husband who went with me to help me at the retreat.

I could go on and on, but just wanted to give praise to God for being so kind as to reveal our hearts to us, to change those hearts, and to bless us immensly in the process. He is our help and He is able.

Pink hew

What was a white-walled office has over time begun to morph it's way in to a princess haven :)







Daryl was not even exaggerating when the morning after our first baby shower I overheard him murmur to himself in disbelief, "There is a pink glow coming from the nursery."


I cracked up and ran out into the hallway to see if he was serious - he was! But is it any wonder? Check out the room at current...



People have been SO generous to us and Daryl and I are even more excited now for Anna Grace (that's right - that's the name selection) to arrive! Isn't she going to be cute????

Unless she turns out a he or to be goth, we'd better get used to pink. I have a feeling we will be buying/receiving pink for a long time.

Who knew life could be so fun and she hasn't even arrived yet? I love peering in there every night :)

Thanks to everyone who has mailed gifts, given gifts, and given advice! We are so grateful for the many tangible ways that God has used others to lavish His love on us! Hopefully she'll be a blessing to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!