Update

So the biological father has told his parents that they are putting the baby up for adoption, and they think that it is a good idea. I have been told that the grandparents can be one of the hardest obstacles when trying to adopt a baby. But both sets in this case are on board with the adoption, as well as the biological father! And the last thing that I heard was that the mother is still planning on the adoption. So things are slow but still working out . . . what should I expect God is in control. No worries. Keep praying for us!

Still waiting on some "bigger" news

What I have heard as of late, is that everything is still in the works. We are also still waiting to hear what the birth-mother is having. I am really praying for a girl... only because I have enough girl clothes to last until age 5, and I have just always wanted a girl first. But anyways just wanted to update with what I know.

Thank you all for your encouragement, God knows this is a time where a sweet positive word will go a long long way!

No news

I haven't heard any new news yet... so that is why I have not posted yet.


Well I actually did find out some news, but not about the adoption. I found out this week that I will more than likely be on birth control for the rest of my life, to suppress my endometrisis, and I was also told that the only way that I will be able to get pregnant, is if I have IVF done, which I won't. So I will never get pregnant.
My doctor actually said that I am doomed fertility wise. I don't like him right now.

Adoption update

We know that the birthmother's name is Jennifer, she is due the 1st of April. As far as I know she plans on having the baby down here. Wouldn't that be AMAZING! Pray that it would work out. This week she will be getting a call from my agency and they are going to "counsel her". Which is a great idea. They want to find out from her why she wants to do this and then she will begin to fill out the paperwork. So this time is a little bit uneasy because I am only hearing hearsay. BUT GOD IS AWESOME AND HE IS IN CONTROL!! And everything has already been so mind blowing, and I had nothing to do with it.

But when I find anything else out I will update again.

Jen

Wow God is at work and He is so faithful!

First of all we found an adoption agency! They are called Hope for Families. We found them last weekend, and they are a great Christian couple who are eager to help us. So we had our adoption homestudy this last week, and we are now approved to adopt. So the next step was to find a birthmother. Well the Lord totally took care of that, the birthmother pretty much found Erick and I! She knew my name before I knew hers. Her name is Jennifer...which is crazy! She is due in April. Which is going to be the perfect time, because I will then be able to have the whole summer to bond with the precious child that God has chosen for Erick and I. Wow blows my mind...All of this still has not sunk in.

Another blessing is that because the agency didn't have to find the birthmother for us, we are saving about 7500 dollars! God thank you!

Update on the foster care - we are still waiting for our paperwork to finish going through the state. I guess because we are younger than the normal foster parents, they are looking at every little detail... blahhh I am running out of patience with all of this. I just want to bring in a little baby to love and take care of for a while! So it may be a couple more weeks :(

I know have a lot of prayer requests:
-Pray that the birthmother will be healthy and that the baby will be safe in her womb.
-Pray that Erick and I will remember to daily be thankful for what the Lord is providing for us...there is a lot right now!
-Pray that our foster care papers will go through and that we will get our foster child soon to take care of.

Thank you friends,
Jen

The Journey Starts Now!

I am sure you all know the verse "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean no on your own understanding, but acknowledge Him in all your ways, and HE will direct your paths." This verse has been made real in my life this last week. As many of you know, Erick and I have been led to seek adoption through foster care. But the Lord has decided to open another door at this time and we feel that we are being led to begin the adoption process for a domestic adoption. We are still going to be foster parents.

The reason we didn't first seek the adoption route was because of financial reasons, but like I said God has opened a door and we are going to walk through it. We are going to be having our first homestudy this Wednesday! The agency that we are going with says that this process may take 6-10 months!

So I will fill you in on when we get our Foster babies, and as the process of adopting our own baby comes as well!

Pray for us,
Jen and Erick

Some pictures of our place

Kitchen

Living room

Dining/living and front door.

The rest of the rooms have not been "perfected" like the baby room won't be shown until after the shower and I have the necessities. And the bedrooms were a mess...so later on those as well.

:)

We are still waiting on our baby

We submitted our information into the government and now we are waiting.... who knows how long this will take. They think it will be two to three weeks until we get a call. I am excited though, we have the baby room ready. We have the big things, like our crib, stroller, pack and play, high chair, car seats. We only need the necessities, like bottles, diapers, crib sheets, etc. But my shower is this weekend and I can't wait to experience it! Thanks to all my friends who will be sharing this exciting time with me, and for those who can't make it, I love you too!

Jen

Creation/ Evolution

The first week of school I always teach the students about the on going debate of Creation and Evolution. I find this to be the most important part of the school year. What the students believe about the origin of the universe is going to determine what they believe the rest of their lives about: Abortion, cloning, homosexuality, euthanasia, divorce, and many other topics. These students are the next generation and they are going to be making choices that could effect me when I am an old lady living in a nursing home. If the students do not learn the truth now, they may never understand what is the Christian way to believe.

I pray that the Lord uses me to speak truth into the lives of these lucky students who get the chance to have me as their science teacher!

Finally I am up and going again!

After being in our new place for 2 weeks, comcast finally came out!
School starts on the 19th, I am not sure what to think of this year. I pray that it is awesome and that it is the best one yet!

Erick and I finished our Fostering classes! So hopefully in 6 weeks we will have a little one in our house! Ahh I am getting nervous though...I mean I am going to be a mom. Pray for us. Also here is a little disclaimer...we found out that we are not able to talk about or tell the child's story, they have confidentiality. So I will post pictures, but I don't think I can say anything about them :(

I will take some pictures of our new place as soon as we get everything in its place.

Jen

Erick and I are moved in, but I do not have internet at my place yet...once I do I will post some pictures and update better.

But somethings that have happened :(

My laptop that i have ALLLLLLL of my pictures on (like from college to now...like 8 years of pictures) decided to crash...hard. And no I did not have anything backed up, so anyone who has not backed up their computer...do it, you never know when this is going to happen.

Second, I start school on Monday and I am really sad. My summer was not as creative or exciting as I wanted it to be, and I turned out working on my masters the whole time...not how I anticipated my days.

Third, I only have 2 weeks left of my foster classes, we will hopefully get a baby in September sometime!! Can't wait to write and post pictures of these little ones.

Fourth, did I mention my summer is over :(

Jen

Babies R Us Registry and other thoughts

Erick and I registered at Babies R Us! It is so exciting...but it was hard for me.
I always imagined that I would be going into the store to register...pregnant. Well as many of you know that that is not how it is working out, but Erick and I are hoping to have a Foster baby in a month, and we don't have anything. So register we must and baby show we will!
But anyhow I felt like every other woman who was in there, that was pregnant, was looking at me and was probably thinking "Well she sure is jumping the gun...she isn't even showing!" or "Why is she registering she isn't pregnant!" Also I assumed that I would know what I was having and have a cute themed room all picked out, but instead I am registering for neutral gender and age.
Don't get me wrong I am so excited, but these were not my plans. I didn't plan on suffering from infertility, I didn't plan on any of this. Which makes this an adventure because I don't know what to expect! And God has opened up doors to friendships that I would have never of had unless I did go through this. Like Steph and Jeff our MAPP buddies, and Heather and Dario...they are foster parents we met, we bought a stroller and a crib from them off craigslist.
So many of you will be getting a shower invitation in the mail in a couple weeks...I feel weird about this as well, which I wrote about a few weeks ago. But this may be the only chance for me to have a shower and I want to experience it!

Thanks friends for being supportive through this exciting adventure Erick and I are embarking on!

Jen

Cool things are happening!

First of all Erick and I were shown an open door and it didn't close on us! Thank you Lord! We found a nice condo to rent! It allows dogs. It has plenty of space for a couple of Foster kids, and it is in perfect location for our jobs and family.
Second, I decided to look on Craigslist for different baby items and I have a cool story. As you know I found this Carseat on the side of the road, and now I am on a Chicco kick. So I was looking for a Chicco Stroller system and found a nice used one (stroller, carseat, and base) for 100 bucks! (Erin I would still LOVE to borrow your base) And the couple that I bought it from are ,get this, Foster parents! We are actually gonna meet for coffee sometime so we can hear the good, bad, and ugly side of Fostering. We are also getting a crib w/ mattress and a drawer underneath for 75, and possibly many other items, but his wife needs to get into town to let him know what he can sell.


So that is really cool! I am excited, the only bad thing is that I don't have anywhere to put this stuff until August 1. But hey I am ready to wait a couple more weeks.

Praise the Lord!
I can't wait to post pictures.

New background

I Feel that since school will be starting shortly...I actually make sure that I do not know how many days of freedom I have left...that would depress me. Anyways I wanted a new background, and depending on what gender child we could be fostering in less then 3 months :) I wanted to have a cute background to post pictures and things.

Jen

Closed doors or Open doors? Sad Job or happy Job?

There comes a time when we pray and we ask the Lord to show us His path by opening and closing doors. But sometimes it seems that all of the doors are open and we don't know which way to go, or it seems all the doors are closed and we are stuck in a hallway. I feel that way right now. It seems there are a ton of possibilities and then SLAM all the doors close. Then one seems to eek open again and SLAM. So I am so confused. I know that God has a purpose and place for me and Erick, but it just seems that everything lately doesn't want to work out, and it really is disheartening.
Examples being Erick's job...every other day seems like it is his last day...door getting ready to close, but then wait a huge sale was made we are okay for another couple days...then it gets super slow again, can't pay payroll...then another sale. It is an emotional roller coaster.
Our housing situation...find a great Short sale that should work out for us faster than normal....door opening...find out that the bank and the seller are still trying to figure something out...could take 3 months...door closing...Our friends find this cute nice condo for us to rent...door seems to open...everything seems great...until our friend tries to contact the other realtor and he is a nutcase and can't find the owners and says that we can have pets, but who really knows...door closing.
Sorry this is a depressing post, it is just that I was hoping to be settled before the school year started, and could have a place to take pictures of for my home study for my foster kids.

Lord...what are you trying to show/teach us? I hope it is not patience.

My friend Michele's little girl Nicole came to mind when I wrote this, a good while back she (nicole) was showing me the stories of Job, and she got really excited and did this cute sad face and showed me Job sad, but then you turn the page and Wham Happy Job and she gets all excited and even has a squeak in her voice when she says it. I feel like sad Jen right now and can't wait for the page in my life to turn so I can be happy Jen.

Thanks for reading.... :]

Trash Pickin'

The other day I was driving into my neighborhood, and noticed a lot of "trash" by this one neighbors house. Not really thinking much of it I kind of glanced over to see what was there. A second after I drove by I thought "Did I just see a carseat?" Well after a little internal war with myself I turned around and went back to the house. Now I was feeling very proud at the moment hoping no one would drive by seeing me take "trash" from the garbage. But after getting out of my car, and a quick glance at the carseat I grabbed it and threw it into my car. What a rush...I stole some "trash".
So I get home and do a little bit of research and find out that this carseat is worth 190$ brand new, it is in great shape (No unidentified stains or anything), and I would only need to buy a base for it. So here is the beginning of baby collection.

For my coupon clipping friends
Carseat= 190 (ok maybe 140 without base)
Trash pickin'= Free!!

Summers are fleeting

Especially when you are taking 4 graduate classes :( But two of them are done! Praise the Lord. I really anticipated having a great wonderful creative summer, but it has turned out being busy, boring, and not very eventful. (except for the multiple visits to see little Andrew Jack in the hospital, and my crazy Fostering classes!) Ahh I need to do something fun fun fun! Oh well I do have candle-light yoga to look forward to this Friday, and OH Yea Erick and I are going to see Cirque du soleil on Wednesday! I will try to get some picture of those events.

Pray for Erick and I we are actually in a deciding place right now. Erick is losing his job, and we don't know when the store will actually close. But he has an application into our church, and it would be great if he got that job. But we are also tettering between two places to live...we have an offer on a short sale...we are in the waiting process. But when Erick loses his job, we may not be able to get a loan. so then we are thinking about renting our place in Bonita again...we just don't know which way God is calling us. Please pray for us.

Thanks friends
Jen

Sorry I have been busy

I am so busy which shouldn't be happening in the summer! I should be relaxing it to the max. Should be sleeping in until 12 everyday...why is this not happening! Instead I am super busy with grad work. All this week I was shadowing at an elementary school. Very interesting group of kids that I met.

Also every Tuesday I have a lovely 3 hour Foster parent meeting. Ok I lied it isn't lovely except for the fact that Erick's parents are there with us, and I am making a great new set of friends Steph and her hubby. The last two classes have actually been pretty boring. I feel like people just want to talk about themselves. Like this last week we actually spent 2 hours doing a skit that should have only taken 30 minutes. But there were some people who wanted to share their life story in the middle of the skit, and this lasted seriously about 25-30 minutes...just this one lady. I mean thanks lady, but can we stay on topic and get through the skit. Please! Some people in the class are great and funny, but some...I really think they are only in it for a paycheck. Sad really. :(

Besides that I just feel like the days slip by and I don't get a chance to relax. I think that the summers as one gets older go by a lot faster than when I was a kids. Responsibility takes up to much of my time...I wish I could give some of it back or away.

Jen

If you want to improve your falanges

I saw this on Amanda's sight and thought some of you would like to play this fun game! http://www.vml.com/handbellhero

Let me know what you think...my husband is a natural

Thoughts about baby shower

Second of all Erick and are making two huge leaps in our lives. We put an offer on our first house...lets pray that they take it and secondly we are beginning fostering classes next week (June 16). We will be taking 10 weeks of classes 1 a week for 3 hours each. We are excited it is almost like we are somewhat pregnant but I don't gain weight and the baby will be here is 3 months and not 9!
So I have begun to buy baby things for the "baby room". Like some cute room decals and stuff animals. I was talking to my step mom and she wants to throw me a baby shower...is this weird? I actually don't know what to think about it. I mean I don't have any of the necessities to take care of a baby, but then again these may not be my children. We do plan on adopting through Fostering, so I will be needing stuff. Anyways should I make a baby registry or something? Should I ask people to donate? I am really uncertain as to what to do?

Raw and Real

This morning I was drinking a cup of Orange Blossom green tea, and started to feel blah. I don't know about you ladies, but unless I have make-up on or my hair done I don't want to look at myself. Well then I started to think that is a shame that I don't feel good enough about myself when I am, lets say raw and undone. I know that time shows on our faces and our skin becomes irregularly colored and dry, we get dark circles. Anyways being bored and not wanting to get busy on my Master's work, I decided to take some self portraits, yes without make-up, lotion, and I don't think I even took my make-up off from last night...and this is what I found...





I found that your eyes say a lot, if you are unhappy it shows, if you are happy it will light your face up. I also found out that I need to get my eyebrows done and re highlight my hair. :D But isn't it sad that we live in a society that first of all makes us tired and then wants us to look our best because they judge us on our appearance, not by how hard we work at our job or how we raise our family the best we can. But it is all about the shallow and fading characteristics.
I was watching TV the other day and wow there are SSSOOOOO many commercials about "you need to look like your 20, at any age" so get vein removal, botox, facelift...you know what I am talking about. And then the women who we can tell are trying to look young we can point them out and say "poor woman had 10 too many facelifts!" There really is no pleasing them.

So my challenge today...love your skin, love what God gave you, embrace it take care of it, but don't invest your life savings into it. Don't get caught up in the beauty wagon, we all know the soul is where true beauty shines! I am not saying don't wear make-up, but make up your mind, that beauty is only skin deep and your relationship with Jesus is where your time and energy needs to go!

P. s. I dare any of you to share a raw and real picture of your self, I bet you are beautiful!

I need some fun ideas of what to do during my summer break

I need ideas that are cheap, don't really need to be far away, and can benefit others. I do well when I have a certain goal that I need to obtain. If you all could give me ideas of things to knit, paint, or take pictures of I would appreciate it. I want to be creative but the jar is a little low at the moment. I think my graduate classes are draining me.

BIG DECISONS

So I am asking you all to pray for Erick and I. We are about to take a big step in our marriage together, by becoming Foster parents. There is a lot that we need to do before we can do this...like get our own place. I really feel that God is telling us that this is the way that our "family" will grow. You see Erick and I just want a child to love and cuddle and pour our lives into. For a long time I was selfish and was thinking I only wanted this to be a biological child, but wow there are so many children that need a mom and a dad to love them. You know maybe God has it so that Erick and I will never get pregnant, but will be able to adopt a child that we foster.

So if you would pray that Erick and I will follow God's leading and that we would do what we need to, to be Foster parents.
I will keep you all updated with any changes.

“Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” James 1:27

What the summer holds....laughter and more laughter

Well fellow bloggers I have officially finished my second year of teaching! I am now a lightly seasoned teacher. I can't wait until I am to the point where I have done my lesson plans a year in advance and know exactly what I am teaching each day, and could teaching it backwards forwards, and maybe throw a monkey in there somewhere.

Anyways so now that I am free from "work school", that leaves me with only my "school school". I am taking 2 graduate classes at the moment, Gifted and Inclusion. I realize that I never am or will be in a gifted program. But I actually feel sorry for those who are gifted and are in regular schooling. Because their teachers may not be on board and are squelching their education without even knowing it. And if students are not challenged and given opportunities to use this "giftedness" they will become mediocre and find themselves settling in a job or life that they could have been leaps and bounds better than....okay soapbox over.

Alright now that I have the summer I promise I am going to let myself eeek and ooze creative things, like cool knits, maybe some painting, and most definitely pictures. This is a new season in my life and I want to allow the exciting stuff happen to me and not just watch it happen to everyone else. I want to have joy and happiness in my life...EVERYDAY! I want to laugh and smile more than I ever have!

Alright I am going to go and be diligent and get the rest of my master's work done for this week, because this weekend I will be having fun fun fun at Disney. What other way could I start a fun packed summer!!

Some of my knits

Sorry the pictures are not very creative, and the lighting is not great...but I wanted to show you somethings.

Can you guess what is on the yellow washcloth

New hair- What do you think?

Before....


























And After...
I think this is my favorite haircut ever! It only takes me about 15 minutes from wet to dry!

School year is coming to an end...Thank you Lord

It is this time of the year that I both Love and Despise being a teacher. I love it because I get the whole summer off! I despise it becuase there are 10001 things that have to be done before the summer can begin. Like making exams, grading exams, tearing down my room, getting all of the appropriate forms filled out, the proper meetings, and everything else that needs to be done.

But it is ok, because...I can sleep in for 2 months straight! I actually have a busy summer, I am taking 4 Masters classes this summer, (2 every 6 weeks)so I will have many projects and papers that I will be working from the comfort of my house!

I got my hair cut, and I am loving it, I think that I actually look older and more mature, which is a huge plus. I will post some picture later for those who want to see.

Hopefully there will not be as much time in between this post and the next.


OH and I am a knitter know, I will have to show you all what I have done!

My Dad's Wedding

Here are a few pictures from my Dad's wedding on April 25th. It was a beautiful wedding! And I loved my dress!

Me and my students were in the Collier Citizen

With this year’s mission trip cancelled, due to a shortage of funds, First Baptist Academy high school students turned their attention to the needs of their own community last month, during the school’s first-ever Outreach Day.

Approximately 80 students took part in the effort, cleaning cages at the Conservancy’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, assisting with home building though Habitat for Humanity and helping to feed the hungry at area shelters, but perhaps the most personally rewarding project was the Widow’s Outreach Project led by FBA science teacher Jennifer Sessions.

“The Bible, in Timothy II, states we are to help the children and the widows,” Sessions says of the project, which also assisted other people unable to undertake various household chores due to age, illness or other unfortunate circumstances. Sessions stated there is always someone who has a need that they cannot fill themselves.

“My students learned to use elbow grease, use their hands, use tools and get dirty,” she says. “It was hard work, but they enjoyed the experience and were encouraged in helping others.”

Before getting down to business, the seven Widow’s Project students began by presenting the homeowner with a bouquet of flowers and concluded their visit with a time of prayer.

The first assignment was yard-related, but students said there was a definite social benefit to the project. While on their hands and knees, weeding the yard and edging the driveway, students also cultivated new friendships.

“She needed help with her yard work, but we also provided her with company from younger people, as she does not get to interact much with people in our age group,” said 11th-grader Elissa Cordero.

Students Sandy Joseph and Syndey Cooper scrubbed windows with soap and water, but it was the homeowner’s reaction that really shined.

“It was really cool to see how happy she was when we finished,” said Joseph. “Her face lit up. It was a great experience to serve her and make her happy. I actually ran into her a couple of weeks later, and she was so thankful.”

Joseph said the experience also gave her a better understanding of the many challenges faced by caregivers.

“She has such a great spirit, even though her husband is going through a horrible situation – she is joyful. I learned from her, and hopefully I will be just like her,” she said.

Alex Chao agreed, stating she had never realized how hard it is on the spouse, who is a full-time caregiver, never having time to do ordinary chores around the house, much less take time for themselves.

“I feel we really made a difference in someone’s life,” Chao said.

At the conclusion of Outreach Day, each group shared their experiences with the others. Students who worked at Habitat for Humanity were able to try out new things while building homes, and students who worked at the homeless shelters were amazed at increase in the number of families utilizing the facilities due to the bad economy and job losses.

Students in the Widow’s Project suggested that Outreach Day be incorporated into the curriculum at FBA, as well as extended to at least a week, to help more families in the community.

According to Sessions, FBA is planning to continue the outreach projects on an
annual basis.

By: Melanie Benfield

Babies can change in one day...

Andrew looks totally different, than he did yesterday. So I wanted to post some more pics for everyone.

Babies...

Today at 3:44 pm, little Andrew Caden Jack was born. Weighing 7lb 11oz, 21 inches long. He is going to be a handsome little man (once his poor whittle head goes back to normal). I am so happy for Michelle and Gregory, this is the child they had prayed for, for over 3 years. And I pray right now that the Lord would allow this child to grow up to be respectful, of parents and God, that he would serve the Lord with a passion and be a man that this country needs to share Jesus and be the leader we are lacking.
I know that he is just a little thing so far...but it doesn't hurt to pray!

Train up a child in the ways he should go, and when he is older he will not depart from it.

You want to know who God really is?

Then read this. "And David writes the name Yahweh. "Yahweh is my shepard." Though foriegn to us, the name was rich to David. So rich, in fact, that David chose Yahweh over El Shaddai (God Almighty), El Elyon (God Most High), and El Olam (God the Everlasting)...Many other titles were at David's disposal. But when he considered all the options. David chose Yahweh.
Why Yahweh? Because Yahweh is God's name. You can call me teacher, or BLG leader--- these are accurate descriptions, but these aren't my name...If you want to call me by my name, say Jennifer...and if you want to call God by his name, say Yahweh.

(Exerpts from Traveling Light, Max Lucado)

Erick and I almost bought a house

Well we had the contract papers written up but we did not sign them. Especially when we found out that 18 other people had already submitted a contract. It was a house out in Golden Gate City that was only 56,900. But we were going to offer 65,000 for it. Which would have been a good deal, but it was a fixer-upper, and I don't think that we really wanted to put all of the money into it let alone time and work into it.

Anyways...we are looking since the market is so awesome right now! Only thing is, HOA's are really high, and the foreclosures can come with a lot of fixing up.

But it we can have a mortgage of only 400 a month...whoa that would be awesome!

Pray for us.

Walk Worthy

Our spiritual walk can be like learning to take our first steps, especially when we are taking our first steps as a new believer. We stumble and fall. We get up. Then we stumble and fall again. It is all part of growing spiritually.

In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul speaks to us about our spiritual walk, about how to walk spiritually.

Walking is an act that speaks of effort and of having a direction with a destination in mind. It speaks of steady motion, regularity, consistency, activity, movement, and progress. In Ephesians 4, God is telling us that it is time for us to walk in light of what we have already learned.

Prior to these verses, Paul has spent three chapters telling us what God has done for us, what God has given to us, and what God has provided for us. He has reminded us that we were all separated from God, alienated from His promises.

We were aimlessly walking through life with no purpose or direction, heading toward a certain judgment. But God loved us so much that He chose us before the foundation of the world.

Then He redeemed us. He bought us out of slavery to sin, adopted us into His family, and sealed us with the Holy Spirit.

If that were not enough, He then placed all of His resources into our spiritual bank account so that we would have everything that we need to grow spiritually.

In Ephesians 4, we learn more about what we are supposed to do for God. Notice the order. First, Paul tells us what God has done for us (as you read the Bible, you will find that the primary emphasis is just that). Then he tells us what we must do for God.
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" (Ephesians 4:1 NKJV).
We may read that verse and think, "I am in trouble. How could I ever be worthy? There is nothing I could ever do to deserve God's grace." But that is not what the word "worthy" means here.

This word could be translated as, "to balance the scales." In other words, what is on one side of the scale should be equal in weight to what is on the other side of the scale. This word can be applied to anything that is expected to correspond to something else. Another way to translate it is, "I want you to live a balanced life."

But what is the balance he is referring to? Paul was telling us that there needs to be a balance between our belief and our practice, between our doctrine and the way that we live. The two need to go together.

Some people are lopsided. They may be strong in one area and weak in another. I have met people who have an incredible and impressive knowledge of the Bible. They know Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. They dazzle you with what they know. But their personal life is in shambles.

The problem is that they are imbalanced. They have the knowledge. They have the doctrine. But their life is out of balance.

Then there are those who don't know much doctrinally. They don't really know what the Bible teaches on certain subjects, but they love the Lord. They are passionate about their faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, you might hear them say something like, "Let's not quibble over doctrine. I just love Jesus."

That sounds admirable, but it is a dangerous statement. If they are not careful, they might end up loving the wrong Jesus. They might end up believing the wrong gospel, and that is where doctrine comes in.

We need the balance of having both of these areas working together. That is what it means to walk worthy of the Lord.

(Copied from Harvest Weekend- Greg Laurie)

Whats new in the land of infertility

So for those of you that have been following along with the infertility issues of mine, I wanted to update you.
Erick was retested and the results were still abnormal. So the next step is for my sweet husband to get a "Male Exam"? I don't know what this entails but I think it will end up meaning that he is going to have to change his diet and take those vitamins that I have been nagging him about :)
I wonder if there are such foods that can zap your sperm production? I pray that it could be a diet fix and nothing to invasive.

So Erick is the one getting all the work done at the moment, I will let you know when they move on to my issues, because I know that even if he is "healthy", I still need some work done on my part...unless god intervenes! Which I need to Hold on to Hope that He will.

Want to get your car washed?

Come out to FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH NAPLES this Saturday between 10am-3pm there will be a car wash...the junior class will be washing and detailing cars for a measly 15$. We are trying to raise money for our junior class trip!!

Honest Tea

I love Honest Tea...not only because it is an awesome sipping tea, not a gulping tea, but because it is organic and is a part of fair trade. Also it always has a quote or a phrase in the cap that will make you go hmmmmm...
Like in my Peach OO-LA-LONG tea it said " Do not regret growing old, it is a privilege denied to many."
Think on that

ALSO they are on sale right now at Whole Foods 5 for 5!

Think about this

How often do we thank God for his kindness? Not often enough. I mean God is the example to follow..."he is kind to people who are ungrateful and full of sin" Luke 6:35.
In the Greek...kindness carries an added idea the English word doesn't. It refers to an act of grace. It also refers to a deed or person who is "useful, serviceable, and adapted to its purpose." Kindness was even employed to describe food that was tasty as well as healthy. So a salad can be kind.
The usage makes sense, Isn't kindness good and good for you? Pleasant and practical? Kindness not only says good morning, it makes the coffee.

Holding on to Hope

It is finally here, the ministry that I suggested we get started about 5 months ago! Yet, I am having some mixed feeling about how it is going. It is almost like I put a lot of input into it yet I am not in charge of it. I keep on telling myself that maybe I was only meant to be a catalyst and not the boss. Maybe this will be to much of responsibility than I need. I guess it is just the proud side of me that wants recognition. Anyways...any ladies in the Naples area that are/or have been through infertility, and want to be blessed by this group of women who are going through one of the (I believe) most confusing and hurting times in their lives. I can give you some information:)

Check this out

This is my husbands Erick's blog

http://www.historyisdestinedto.blogspot.com/

and I am often blow away by the passion and the intelligence that this man has. It is deep and often about history or politics, but he really makes you think...for your self I have been trying to get him to write when he has something on his mind because he has a gift for writing.

The RULES:


1.) Go to where you store your digital photos and open the 4Th folder.


2.) Go to the 4Th picture and post it.


3.) Explain the picture.




This is me and my friend Jackie and an awesome student Alexi, in our BLG group.


And then I also chose the fourth picture going down.



This was from summer camp this past summer. It was a beautiful place.

Family Reunions

It is sad that for a "family reunion" to take place in my family there has to be a death in the family. When we had my Pappaw's Memorial there were a lot of people I hadn't seen in many many years, and then yesterday at my Grandpa's Memorial I saw again more family that I hadn't seen in years.

I tell you what, I hate divorce and what it does to families. I envy the families that still have at least half of their family members still married. In my family there is...Well it was my Grandpa and Grandma of 60 years, but now Grandma is a widow,my husbands parents of 30 something years, and then there is Erick and I 3 years...the rest have been divorced at least once.

It makes things so awkward, and there will always be drama... I vowed never to get divorced...I am going to try to beat Grandma and Grandpa of 60 years

More Pictures

In these pics we have Leo my kitty cat, we have my long time friend Laura and her daughter is Alana, she wasn't there to take her picture but I need to get that cutie on film :) And the last photo was an idea that I had for the "Holding onto Hope" Ministry We are trying to start at FBCN. Feel free to copy my idea to spell out your children's names. Liberty and Hope are good size, Nathanael may be a little long :)