Jonah's First Baseball Game

If any of you know my husband you know he is an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. Unfortunately we are not able to take Jonah a game but the next best thing would be to see his uncle Ben play. Last night Jonah and I, along with my dad (Jonah's Papa) went to see uncle Ben play. My dad was so excited to see Jonah and spend some time with him after being on vacation for the last week. Here are some pictures of Jonah and Papa at the game.

On another note.................

I wrote last week about memorizing scripture. I finished the verse today so here it goes... Philipians 3:12-14 " I do not mean that I am already who God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. Christ wants me to do that which is the reason he made me His. Brothers and Sisters, I know I have not yet reached this goal but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and striving towards what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ....." I almost made it. There are a couple words at the end that I am missing. It is a little hard for Jonah to help me when I say the verse to him every morning. :)

Our pastor preached this weekend on the verses where Moses is bargaining with God to save a city. He starts by asking God if he will save the city if there are 50 righteous people in it. Then he keeps bargaining until he gets down to 10 righteous people. Needlss to say the city wasn't saved. I kept thinking, "How could there not have been 10 righteous people in the city?" Our pastor challenged us to be one of the righteous. The Lord kept recalling my memory verse to my mind. I know I am not a righteous person everyday but, " I continue trying to reach the goal and make it mine."

I hope you all will strive to be one of the righteous.................

6 Years And Counting

Yesterday Josh and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary. Needless to say we have come a long way in 6 years but still have a long way to go. I found myself several times yesterday thinking what was I doing at that moment 6 years ago. Here's what I remember:

8 a.m.: A picnic breakfast made by a family friend in the livingroom of our just aquired house

9 a.m: Off to the hair dresser in the limo with my sister and bridesmaids

10 a.m.: Dropped the bridesmaids off at the church and went to pick up my mom and sisters at their hair dressers.

11 a.m. Getting dressed, makeup, and preparing for pictures.

2 p.m. Racing down the isle to meet my groom. My dad had to hold me back and tell me to walk slower.

3:30 p.m. After what seemed like hours of taking pictures Josh and I were able to greet friends and family at the reception (I never got any of my cake)

5 p.m. After changing Josh and I exited the church while our families and a few friends (they were the only ones left) blew bubbles. I seem to remember someone tossing the bubble mixture at me insted of using the little wand.

6 p.m. Timberline Steakhouse. Josh and I were starving after the long day and decided to share our first meal as husband and wife at one of our favorite steakhouses.

The first year and a half of marriage was tough. Not only were we getting used to each other and all that comes with sharing a house with someone but we were dealing with the illness and death of my mom. I thank the Lord every day that I have such a wonderful husband who put with a lot of emotion those first couple years.

We now have a beautiful son and a new house. The Lord has so richly blessed us. So many marriages don't even make it this far. I know that we are older and wiser now and I pray that we continue to grow closer and closer as husband and wife but also closer as parents to Jonah and hopefully more kids to come.

We hope to get away soon to celebrate but Josh and a family friend spent the weekend putting in our sprinkler system. I couldn't resist taking a couple pics.

The pictures don't have anything to do with our anniversery but I have to keep my family (now 3 gone) updated. Here are some pictures of Jonah this weekend.

Does anyone know how to get these things off my feet?????

I promise that I don't usually put my child in front of the TV. Unfortunatly he already loves it. If we are in the living room he is automoatically drawn to it. I just had to take the picture!

Lists

Lists, lists, lists, lists, lists. I am a list maker. My colleagues would say it is because I am a gold (personality test thing). So every summer I make lists of things I need to do. This year has been pleasant because we are in a new house and the in depth cleaning that had to be done at the old house doesn't exist here. Although, have you ever noticed how much dust accumulates on the top of your refrigerator? We have lived here 5 months and let me just tell you, there was A LOT of dust up there already. Anyway. This morning after my devotional I made a list for this week. I quickly realized that I might have been a little ambitious. Life is definitely different now that there is another person to take care of on a daily basis. I suppose that I should be thankful that he isn't mobile yet or I would really be in trouble.

I said in my first post after school was out that I was really looking forward to having time to do an in depth devotional. I am reading Having a Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver. It is all about letting God change you and having intimacy with God in this busy life. The study guide for this week had me memorizing scripture. I used to have to do this in elementary school when I went to a Christian school but I have wanted to get back into it. So here goes my couple phrases for today. Phil. 3:12-14 "I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he make me his."

Memorizing is much more difficult as an adult. I hope to have the whole verse memorized by then end of the week. I also wanted to point out a key part of the book that really struck home. She says, "I can't imagine anything more terrible than getting to the end of my life only to discover that God had so much more in mind for me-more freedom, more joy, more peace, more true effectiveness. And I missed it all, simply because I refused to change." Changing is not easy, but if I refuse to grow and be stretched who knows what I will have missed.

Another activity I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to do is walking with Jonah. We have a great neighborhood and love to go walking around the mile and a half circle that makes up the whole edition. The other night we went walking and Jonah fell asleep. I couldn't pass up the pictures.

Snoozing while we walk

To our Aunt Rachel: WE MISS YOU ALREADY!!! My sister Rachel graduated early from HS to babysit Jonah after I went back to school. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to spend each day with Jonah. She is now on her way to Alaska to go to a missions school there. We will miss you and can't wait until you get back!

Jonah and his Aunt Rachel

Last thing for today. My mother-in-law got me this book that shows you all sorts of activities that kids should be doing at different ages. One of the activities was putting a towel under their arms while they are on their tummy to help them work their neck muscles. These are some of the pictures from this morning. Have a great day!

Here is Jonah playing in his little "Jungle Gym"

Just Another Day

Well today officially ends the work week. Oh, wait..... I didn't have to go to work. YIPEE!!!! Actually, I did stop in twice this week because I'm not checked out of my classroom yet. It is amazing how much you don't get done when you have a little one. Gone are the days of just getting up and going to school or the store or anywhere for that matter. I have no complaints, he is a great baby, but having a child really changes things.

Tonight we decided to take Jonah to the pool for the first time. We went to the new YMCA indoor pool. I didn't get any pictures because I wasn't sure where to put the camera where it wouldn't get taken. I'll try to get some soon. He looked so cute in his little board shorts and sun shirt. Let's just say it is hard to get all those clothes off when the kid is wet!

Anyway.... Today Rachel watched Jonah for a couple hours while I went in to school and got some things done. It is amazing how much crap I have accumulated over the 2 years I have been at the school. After working, Jonah and I took Rachel out for a thank you lunch. We are really going to miss her when she is gone. Jonah will be 9 months old when she gets back.

Here are a couple pictures from our day. I also included a video of Jonah starting to roll over. I say at the end of the video that his "rolls" keep him from rolling over and it really is true! He has discovered his toes too. If he could get enough momentum he might be able to get over the rolls. :) Good Night and God Bless..............

I have to lose 5 lbs so I look good in my suit.

Anyone have a membership to the Y I can borrow?

Our blanket boy

Have you been riding with my mom lately?

Clothes. I need clothes. Does anyone know where I can find some?

4 Months

How time flies.....

Jonah had his 4 month doctors appointment today. I can't believe how fast time is passing. Unfortunately the first couple doctor's visits bring pain. He had more shots today and isn't doing quite as well as he did for the 2 month ones. He weighed 15.5 lbs and was 24.25 inches long. We are still dealing with his milk allergy but other than that he is doing really well. He is loving sitting up and doing really well holding his head up.

He is also developing a personality. My brother was over

today and said that he is crying more. Actually, I think he has just figured out that when he cries things happen, ie. Mom or Dad come, he gets picked up, or he gets fed. He smiles when you walk in the room and laughs when you make a funny face.

It is such a blessing to be able to be home with him each day. He still takes 2 good naps each day (except for today :( ) We play on the floor, take walks around the neighborhood, read books. Jonah even helps me cook! Then when dad gets home at night we take a bath and snuggle.

We are looking forward to being able to go to our neighborhood pool as soon as it warms up. I think we might try and go to the pool at the YMCA since it is like a big bathtub!

School's Out For The Summer

Well it is finally finished. The 2008-2009 school year is behind us. I'd never heard the song School's Out For The Summer before it appeared on Guitar Hero but it is truly fitting for this post. I don't know any more words than those but that seems to be enough.
I can't tell you how good it feels knowing that I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow. No more grading papers until 11:00 only to get up at 5:45 and getting ready for school the next morning. I am so looking forward to hanging out with Jonah, getting some cleaning done, and going to garage sales on Thursday and Friday. All these sound great but I think the thing I am most looking forward to is getting my devotional time back in the morning. When I was on maternity leave I was able to have my devo time while Jonah took his morning nap. Since I returned back to school my devo time has gone down the tank. Most days I was blessed to get a shower, feed Jonah and get to school only 15 minutes late :).
I receive several on- line devotionals but I think I am going to pick up "Having a Mary Heart" by Joanna Weaver. I have read it before and I really think I need to read it again. Here is an issue of the on-line devotioanal I get that really described how I am feeling as of late.

The Motions by Matthew West
This might hurt, its not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I dont care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something

Are you in a rut? Do you feel like you’re just going through the motions every day? Are you numb to the world around you? It’s easy to get so busy that you forget or don’t notice what’s going on around you. Everything around you is moving, but you feel like you’re standing still, unable to react to anything. And it’s usually in these moments that we feel the need to do something different.We want to change something, just so that something in our life changes; so that we can begin to feel something—anything. Our actions become desperate. But taking desperate measures is not always the best move. Sometimes what we want to do is dangerous, and might even have the potential to ruin our lives. So be sure that whatever you do to get rid of the numbness and stir up your life is in line with what God would want for you. God doesn’t want you to do anything harmful or destructive to yourself or to those around you. Seek God first, take action second.

Psalm 63:1
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary landwhere there is no water.

There are no pictures today but I hope to post some later this week. Jonah and I are going to try and make it to the zoo either this week or next.

My First Mother's Day

This year was my first Mother's Day and it was filled with many different emotions. Having a child I often wonder, "What would mom do?" I tell Jonah often about his Grandma Teri and how crazy she was. At my dad's house this afternoon they were singing You Are My Sunshine. My mom used to sing that to me and I often sing it to Jonah. When my mom used to sing it to me when I was little I used to say gravy instead of gray. I know that seems silly but whenever I sing it to Jonah I always sing gravy instead of gray. I think I miss my mom more this Mother's Day than I have before. She meant so much to me. I think back on all the things she did for me and my family and I never said thank you enough. I never told her how much I appreciated all she did.

I still struggle daily with the thoughts of "why?" She would have loved to see Jonah with his red hair, his smiles and his soft arms. She always loved to rub arms. I never quite understood it until now. The skin on Jonah's arms is so soft and I love to just rub them while we're playing or eating.

Although none can replace my mom the Lord has seen fit to bring some wonderful women into my life who have lessened the loss.

Lana-You are so patient and caring. Thank you for stepping into our family and loveing us as your own. Your baby advice has been invaluable! The one day you were at work and I couldn't reach you was the day Jonah had to have surgery! I think I agonized all day over calling you at work. The Lord knew I would need someone to help answer all of those new mom questions.

Pam-practically perfect in every way. Oh, wait that was Mary Poppins. :) You have showered us with love and food. I can't believe that almost 10 years ago I was in your classroom helping out and now here we are. Thank you so much for loving me as your own and being a grandma to Jonah. We are all so blessed to have you in our lives.

Kerry-my spiritual advisor :) Thank you for all your encouraging words over the last 4 years. Your prayers and support have meant so much to me. So many tears have been shed, happy and sad. Thank you for all your love. God knew what he was doing bringing Josh and I to Maranatha at just the right time. Dine-My wonderful mother-in-law. I am so blessed to be apart of your family. From day one you have accepted me and treated me as your own daughter. Our son is so blessed to have you as a grandma. You do a great job of spoiling him :)On a lighter note I was able to have a 3 day weekend with Jonah. There were 100 mi/hr winds around the area and knocked out the power in the town where I teach. It was a fabulous day of just hanging out with my boy.


I had a wonderful Mother's Day and I hope you all did too. 2 more weeks until school is out!!!!