* Forgiveness * Clean Slate * Standing Room Only *

Today was THE day! The grand opening of TBA Church. Trusting Believing Acting!
Earlier in the week a question was posed to our small group. "Have you ever FELT God's presence?" I know that I have and once I got home and rested my "first week back to work" pregnant brain I thought of a few moments. I want to thank Bryan Stiverson for that question because it brought today's message full circle for me.
I arrived at church early to help the REAL Women's ministry pass out flyers advertising some AWESOME events we have planned. I cannot tell you how amazed I was to stand at the front door and watch the people file in. Every time someone walked in I wondered "what will God say to them today?" I never asked "what will God say to me today". I was just so excited to see so many new faces. The church was packed! Standing room only! God had started his work.
Once it appeared the last had arrived I snuck in and crawled over to my seat with the "groupies". Just in time for one last song from Stiverson, our amazing friend and music minister. OH BOY did I feel God's presence in that room. Bryan is so passionate about praising God through music and it RADIATED from him and the band today. I was flooded with emotion and LOVE for all the work God has done in my life the past few months. When he sang "Overcome" I knew that I had arrived to the place I have been working so hard to get to. In March I attended the Tres Dias walk (which if you follow my blog you know this was my realization at all the work God had been doing to seek me and bring me back to Him). One of the things I struggle with the most is forgiveness. Forgiving myself and some other people in my life. I have seen progress in some of the most important relationships I have. Today I knew His work was done with one I have REALLY struggled with.
Don preached from Psalm 51 and it was an amazing story and testimony to God. If you have time you should read it and research the background of King David. The part that spoke to me was:

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

I want to be the hands and feet of Christ. He extends his forgiveness to me because he loves ME. I have now forgiven myself through His grace and I have forgiven others. I want to teach others His way. THIS is our job as Christians.
God grants us a clean slate every time we slip. He sent His son and sacrificed Him so I could be forgiven and receive this "clean slate". My prayer is that someone out there reads this or experienced the service this morning and accepted His forgiveness.

"Power in hand speaking the Father's plan
You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
and the word of our testimony, everyone overcome" ~ (song lyrics to "Overcome")

AMEN!!!

I Miss My Groupies!

Congrats to our small group family leaders, Bryan and Jen, on the birth of their son Jason! I just know Ellie is going to be a GREAT big sister. Jason joined our happy little world last week. Jen and I have shared our pregnancy woes the last 6 months....now I must wait out the new mommy fun! When I found out the due date Jen and I were projected to be 10 weeks apart. I'm hoping for 8 or 9 weeks apart, but I guess that isn't up to me. hahahaha
I can't imagine what the first weeks of mommyhood are like, but I do know that I miss my small groupies. This summer was a whirlwind of vacations and missed group time. I am looking forward to our next meeting as I know I will be taking some off time when Isaiah arrives. Anyways, just wanted to send a shout out to my little family. Love you all and miss you!

***Mary and Brandon, you MUST join our next pic (or I will have to come over with my camera and get your pic!)

10 more weeks!

I can't believe summer has come and gone! I have gotten a lot done in the nursery this summer and with two friends having babies this week I am getting antsy! Isaiah can't come soon enough (of course I want him to continue baking as long as he NEEDS).
I start back to school next week and I am a bit aprehensive. A "little bit" of shifting and mind changing has landed me in 1st grade. I know God has placed me where he wants me but I AM CLUELESS! Hopefully this new challenge will keep me busy and keep my mind off the upcoming arrival of our little man (did I mention I can't wait for him to get here?) Surely a daily dose of 1st graders will help the time fly. On a good note (maybe) I am getting my same class that I had last year. The plus side of this is that I will already know their little personalities and they will already know my rules, routines and expectations. They were so excited about little Isaiah last year so it will be nice for them to ride these last ten weeks out with me. I can't wait for them to meet him!
To wrap up summer Mike has planned a date night for us tonight. Keep in mind we are on a pretty tight budget so I really look forward to these little "treats". Tonight we will be hitting up the local Silver Moon Drive In for a double feature. The whopping grand total will be $8! Can't beat that! For dinner we will probably pick up some fried chicken and biscuits. YUMMY!!! Picnic and movie! My heart is happy!
I hope all my teacher friends enjoy their last weekend of summer!

Perfect Timing!

So if you are a blog follower you know from my last post that the third trimester blues have set in. I did lots of self therapy yesterday and was starting to feel much better! Today I went to the gym and hopped on the elyptical for 1/2 an hour. I was so looking forward to plunging in the pool when I finished so I could lift this belly, but the weather had other plans! Lucky for me there was a SURPRISE on my doorstep when I pulled up. What a great way to cheer a moody-mommy-to-be up! I came right in and ripped the package open (in my defense there was no return address so I didn't know who it was from and it was addressed to me). I opened up the box only to find the cutest, most perfect, fitted ALABAMA ball cap and t-shirt. I can't believe Isaiah has his first fitted cap. It is so tiny! The shipping sheet inside let me know the package was from Matt (Mike's best friend) and Mary!




I AM IN LOVE! Isaiah is going to be the cutest Bama fan of the season. Thanks so much Matt and Mary for thinking of us during this exciting time in our lives. I hope we can work out a time to watch a game together this season! No tequila for me this season but boy oh boy I can't wait to hear that conch horn blow and get a big RRRRRROOOOOLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL!

Third Trimester Blues

UGH! I have hit a wall. I have really enjoyed being pregnant and the 2nd trimester was amazing. In the last week or so I have felt a little more teary and dreary. Today it all came to a boil. Luckily for my hubby he was at work most of the day. hahaha. It is the craziest feeling I have ever experienced. You conciously know that your pregnancy hormones are making you irrational but you can't stop yourself from having a breakdown. Even mid-tantrum I am telling myself that I need to cut it out and I just can't. Why does this have to happen? I have been sitting here for hours trying to decide what I can do to help myself.
Here is what I have come up with. If you have some better suggestions or tips PLEASE SHARE!
1. Continue to hit the gym everyday for a blast of cardio and some yoga.
2. Do something nice for myself once a day.
3. Do something nice for Michael once a day.
4. Read a book to Isaiah each morning.
5. PRAY, spend time in the word and thank God for this blessing he has gifted us.
6. Float in the pool to relieve some of the pressure and head to my happy place!
I can't believe I am already 30 weeks pregnant but some days I feel like it's still a long road ahead. I like to be proactive and in control of situations. I have decided these hormone rages must be my body's way of telling me I am going to have to give up some control. Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Who's the Hippest Hostess in Town?

If you guessed this blog would be about my bestest, mostest talented, mostest creative, personal shopper, Ashley....then you were RIGHT! About three weeks ago I presented her with a task: thank you cards for Isaiah. Boy oh boy did she ever come through! The only request I had was that a cross be included (based on his name and story behind it this was perfect for me). I never expected them to be SO perfect. She has such a knack for picking out the right card stock, most fabulous fonts and great graphics. Check them out!





















Of course Ashley wouldn't be happy to ONLY send my request she had to go the extra mile (such the entrepneur). I now have "blogspotter" business cards. I AM NOW PUTTING IN A REQUEST FOR "MOMMY" BUSINESS CARDS! (hope you got that Ash)





















And all of this cute stuff came packaged in a handy, reusable, eco friendly velcro bag from White Satin Ribbon. Check out her ETSY shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/whitesatinribbon




SO....now that you are all super jealous of my goodies, I have great news! You can make some super cute purchases from Ashley, too! Her prices are great and she doesn't need a whole lot of direction from you (if you're like me and have no clue). I'm sure she will welcome the involvement and fresh ideas though! Check out her hostessing blogspot http://www.thehiphostess.blogspot.com/ OR find her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Memphis-TN/The-Hip-Hostess/128604060865?v=info&ref=ts.
You have my guarantee that YOU WILL BE HAPPY!
Cheers to the hippest hostest in town!
LOVE YA GIRL!

Outlet Shopping for Isaiah

Yesterday we spent the day in Orlando shopping at the outlet mall. I think we hit up every kid store they had. First on the stop was the Converse outlet. Michael has been wanting a pair for himself but when we entered I headed straight for the baby aisle! How cute are these little shoes? I am so happy my little man will be sportin' the stringless converse. Of course I couldn't walk out with one pair when I found out the second pair was half off! I HEART THESE!


I think Daddy is a little jealous that Mommy is so obsessed with baby clothes right now, but I think he will just have to get used to it! After Converse we hit up Gymboree, OshKosh, Ralph Lauren, Carters, Diesel, and many more shops. I won't bore you with ALL the goodies we came home with but here are two of my favorites!
"Gigi" (Mike's mom) spotted these jeans and I knew that I HAD to have them. They are so stylish and cute (yes I think everything is CUTE). I went through a few shirts before I settled on the perfect one to finish off the look. I definitely think this outfit will be topped off with a baseball cap. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
Here we have our Daddy inspired outfit. Michael is really wishing Isaiah would come out ready to toss the football and run around. Since this won't happen we can atleast dress him up like a little future football star!
We had such a fun, productive and HOT day. My feet are paying for it today (I will be wearing tennis shoes next time I decide to go on an all day shopping adventure). Did I mention we were there until 7pm? Thanks Gigi for all the goodies and the time we have spent together. Isaiah can't wait to meet you and sport his new wardrobe!