Today I am so thankful for...

...Michael
...our little boy growing inside of me!
...our families in NC & MI
...God's daily provision & faithfulness
...a cute little apartment at a wonderful price
...friends
...food!
...crisp weather
...smiles
...wonderful piano students
...that Michael likes my cooking :-P
...pecan pie
...leaves falling from the tree and crunching beneath my feet
...seeing my breath in the air
...pumpkins
...that Jesus is in my life and will never leave nor forsake me!

Are you thankful? Not just today... but every day?

I pray that the Lord makes me grateful each and every day of the year... not just on the day we are *supposed* to be thankful. :-)

Photos...

Here is one of the amazing photos that Hope Knight took of Michael and I last Saturday...

You can find more on her website or on my facebook. :-)
http://hkphotography.wordpress.com/

Our little man...

:-D

23 weeks...

well, I am finally taking another picture of my belly. I haven't taken one since week 18!
I also got a haircut today. :-D

Studying God's Word...

"We fail in our duty to study God's Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy."
~ R. C. Sproul

Urgent Prayer...

I have been struggling with severely swollen feet and ankles for the past couple of weeks. Being that this is my first baby, I just chalked it up to normal pregnancy swelling. I was talking to my sister the other day and mentioned that I was struggling with this. She immediately became concerned, especially since I am not quite 22 weeks. She told me to drink more water, eat more protein, walk more, put my feet up, AND to talk to my midwife ASAP.

Well, I talked to my midwife today and she was very concerned as well. Her and my sister are both thinking that this is an early sign of possibly getting Preeclampsia. http://www.preeclampsia.org/ It is good we caught it now, but I have to be ultra careful to do everything I need to so it won't go into it. Once you get Preeclampsia, you have it and can't get rid of it. You will end up having a premature baby by C-section in the hospital. This is a very very dangerous condition.

So I ask with all my heart that you join Michael and I in prayer for this little one and myself. I really appreciate it!

Love y'all! <3

Sweet Friend...

I went to a friend's house for Breakfast today and really enjoyed our time of fellowship together. She made waffles and we talked over sweet milky cups of tea. :-) I really have enjoyed getting to know her!

As I was getting ready to leave, she asked me if we could use some chicken breasts. Of course I said yes, and as she put them in a bag, she also included over two pounds of ground beef, a dozen eggs, and a pound of butter. I was overwhelmed and felt like crying! She said to me "we've been there before and we want to give you this".

She didn't completely realize that we have almost no groceries in our fridge right now, and we can never afford chicken breasts either. But God knew!

May I always be as ready to give of what the Lord has bestowed on me. Thank you God! I am so grateful to You and to her. :-) <3

His Mercies are New Every Day...

Michael and I are both working two jobs each. It is hard sometimes, but I thoroughly enjoy my nanny job (which ends December 18th), and everyone one who knows me knows I love teaching music. I have amazing students who really are talented and doing SO well. AND it helps that they have parents who make sure they are practicing. :-D Please pray for more students for me as I hope to just teach voice and piano after December and not worry about a second job. :-) Thanks!

This month we were down to the wire and wondering how we were going to pay our rent, electricity, interent (we have to have it for Michael's job that he works from our apartment), and our phone bill. We kept praying and working. The other night when Michael deposited four checks from my jobs into the bank, we had just enough to pay everything, plus a little leftover for some much needed groceries. :-D

God is SO faithful and has never let us go without. When we put our trust in Him, He will always provide just what we need. We may not have the money to go to the movies or out to eat, or even to travel around... but God has us at seminary and provides our needs, plus a little extra. :-D

Oh, and did I mention that Michael won second place in his work contest this month? That means a $50.00 gift card to a restaurant. :-D Can I hear an Amen??? :-P

This month is going to be busy busy busy. Tomorrow I go out to coffee with a wonderful new friend, make a meal for a couple who had a baby last week, and then we go to dinner with some elderly friends of Michael's from Michigan. On Saturday we are having Dr. Pentecost (the oldest professor here) over for dinner. :-D That should be fun!

Sarah comes next week! Yay for family visits. :-D She will be here from the 12-21st. And she will get to be here when we find out if it is a boy or girl on the 20th. :-D

This baby is a little gymnast I think. :-P Also bouncing around and wiggly. We can feel the baby from the outside now... which enthralls Michael. :-D

We will not be able to go home for Thanksgiving. :-( That has been really hard for me, but I am trusting that we will have a lovely little Thanksgiving here together. It just is definitely a time for extended family, and I will miss that! We are hopefully going to MI for Christmas... if we can swing some free tickets Michael might possibly be able to get with points. Please pray about that? Thanks!

Well, this was just a note chock full of random news. Thank you all for your friendship! I love you guys. :-) <3

Joy Cometh in the Morning...

I awoke refreshed and ready to move on. I will respect him as our 44th President. God IS sovereign and in control. He obviously allowed this to happen. Let us be accountable to each other not to keep hashing out this election (whether we wanted Obama as president or not), but that we will pray for our nation and it's leaders. Please let me know if you are willing to join me in this!

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5b

Saddened....

I am in tears right now, on my knees for my country. My heart is tight in my chest, as I wonder what will happen these next 4 years. People keep saying "This is God's will". I do believe in God's will... but when His people do nothing, He does allow bad things to happen. That is what I believe is happening.

Obama is against everything I believe in as a Christian. He is pro-abortion, pro-homosexuality, etc. People say... abortion is a smaller issue. When did human life become labeled as the "smaller issue"? How could anyone who claims to be a Christian vote for him? I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that. All I can say is, they wanted him... and now they have him.

I am also tired of hearing that this is God's will. Actually, I believe that God's will and Him allowing things to happen are two different things. This may not be a popular thing to say but I believe it. , but sometimes we ask God many times for something that He does not want for us. Eventually, we ask persistently so many times... He says "Ok, you can have it"... but it is not what He desired for us. This is what I believe has happened.

Lord, protect our Christian rights!
Help us to continue to worship freely... speak freely against the rampant sin in our day.
Lord, help us to continue to be able to preach and share about You.
Lord, help me to stay strong no matter what may come!
Amen