BIRTHDAY FUN!!

Well, my baby boy is 1, and Jo is 3! I can't believe a year has gone by since Gage was born, and knowing that he is my last baby has made it even more sentimental. Their party was so much fun..we had several different parties. Jo stuck her face in her cake, and Gage stuck one little finger in the frosting and spread it all over his face. It was adorable! We went to chucke cheese today and had a blast. Makayla got lots of princess stuff for her birthday and she LOVES it! She has been taking naps in her dress, and NEVER wants to take it off. Gage got an awesome truck that makes noise, moves, and lights up. He squealed and started clapping his hands when he opened it! He is all boy! Anyways, I love my kids, and I love celebrating their birthdays. After being told i would never have children, celebrating their birthdays is like a reminder that God healed me and blessed me with two beautiful children! As I look around and see toys cluttering the floor, I smile. Wow, I have kids. I have been given the opportunity to care for them, and be their mommy. At times when I am worn out from the constant cleaning, feeding, laundry, and discipline that takes place everyday, I stop and think....the world said I would never, but the Lord said I will double it. Here is a sweet baby girl and a precious baby boy....I am blessed.

A Breakthrough?

Hey everyone! Well, it has been awhile, and i have officially got all of the house painted! (except the living room...michael won't let me, but I'm working on it!) So I sat on the couch last weekend and realized that I haven't just zoned out and relaxed in two months!! I even took a nap! It was soooo amazing. The house is coming along. We haven't gotten the kitchen and utility room tiled and are starting on the bathrooms next. We also got the new countertops on....NO MORE GREEN!!! (well, except the carpet but not much longer) It is really started to feel like home now. We all went out of town last weekend and I found myself being excited about coming home to Lubbock...that's right, I called Lubbock "home." I am quickly realizing that my "home" is my family. Whenever we are all together, that is when my heart is at peace and happy. I love my family. They are so amazing. Ok, back to my title....this weekend we get up on sunday and totally don't feel like going to church. You know the usual, "I don't have anything to wear? I'm tired. The kids are cranky. We don't have enough time to get ready." The list goes on and on. But somehow we battled the urge to skip and arrived Church on the Rock. We have gone there once before and really liked it. Everyone is very sweet and welcoming. All week long I had been talking to Makayla about going into her class like a big girl. She did great!! She cried a little but she didn't throw herself on the floor. This was a HUGE deal. The service was amazing. This church is filled with the holy spirit and we feel very comfortable there. The nursery workers were very understanding towards Jo and when we picked her up, she was so happy! This was a first! And then today at school, she went in without crying too! She says she likes her new church and wants to go back. Thank you Lord! Just when you think you can't keep going, Jesus does something amazing. Isn't He sweet?

Changes

well, it's been awhile, but I know you all understand! Life is good, but different as Jo would say. The other day Jo says, "my school is different. my home is different. my church is different. Everything is different, mom. I want to go back to Paramount." She says all of this as she is staring out the window with the saddest face I have ever seen. Talk about breaking your heart. How do you fix that when you feel the same way?? I have always known that I am not good at changes, but I thought this time around I would cruise right through it since I have Jesus in my life now. It has been easier but I have realized that I have to lean into Him instead of trying to fix it all myself. I can't heal my little girl's broken heart, I can't update a whole house in a matter of weeks (or even months) ...I can't do it mysef. I always knew I was a perfectionist, but to what degree was unclear until this move. Moving from a house that you had everything the way you wanted it (almost), and moving into a house that needs new flooring, paint, applicances, window treatments, etc. is HARD!!! Don't get me wrong....we are happy we bought this house. We knew all of this coming into it, and we both instantly saw a great vision for this house. It will be beautiful when we are done with it. But the problem is, I want it done NOW! I didn't realize how much my emotions are linked to my surroundings. I can't be content until my surroundings are perfect, which the Lord is helping me through. This is my biggest struggle right now....learning to be content with where I am right now. The Lord is my Joy. Not my home.
And I believe this, but how do I "get" it in my spirit??
Overall, we are doing good. We went to a Texas Tech football game last weekend. Jo LOVED IT! She kept yelling "go red raiders!" We are still looking for a church home. We are going to visit a couple of more before we commit. Makayla is struggling alot right now. She doesn't want to go to school, church, or gymnastics anymore. "mama, will you go with me?" She is needing alot of security right now. I think the new has wore off, and now she realizes that she isn't going back to Amarillo.. so please pray for her. Well, that's all for now.

My sweet baby girl!

WHAT AM I TAKING FROM AMARILLO?

A dear friend of mine asked us the other night what we are taking from Amarillo. My initial reaction was not alot. But then I began to think... Anyone reading this remembers how Michael and I were when we came to Amarillo. Devasted by the lose of our precious baby boy, dealing with a diagnosis of a life threatening disease, struggling in our marriage, hard and sinful hearts was what we carried to Canyon, Texas in our one bedroom/one bathroom rent house. As the months passed on, it only got worse until one night when we reached our lowest point and realized that something had to change or else we would lose our marriage and life as we knew it. We decided to go to church and I will never forget stepping into the building at Trinity Fellowship Church and knowing in my heart that something amazing was going to happen here. We sneak in hoping no one would notice us and sat in the very last row. But we soon discovered that God speaks to you regardless of where you sit. It wasn't long before we felt the Lord tugging on our hearts to give our life to Him instead of trying to do it for ourselves. I will NEVER forget the feeling I had as we walked down the aisle to finally accept that we needed and wanted Him in our life and hearts forever. As time went by, the Lord began to heal our hearts, marriage, and my body. It has been an amazing ride with the Lord!!! He has surrounded us with godly men and women that we know are our friends through thick and thin, healed our marriage to an amazing place, and 100% healed my body from any sickness. After being told that I would "never have children or else it would kill me", I know can claim my healing as I look at my two beautiful children and know that they are our gift from Jesus. So as I think of leaving Amarillo, I am forever grateful that He brought us here and did so many great things in our life. I am taking away our salvation, two beautiful children, healing, and wonderful friendships. Imagine what else He can do? Thank you, Jesus. You are our rock on which we stand each day on.

We are taking down our computer this weekend and packing it so I won't be blogging for a little while. I look forward to updating you in a couple of weeks.

ONE WEEK.....

Well, the time is almost here! One more week, and then we are beginning a whole new journey into Lubbock, Texas! Who would have thought a year ago that we would be moving to Lubbock? We are excited and scared!!! I am excited about this website. What a great way to keep in contact with all of the special people in my life!! That's all for now!!!