Fabulous Friday

Today Isaiah and I took off on an adventure with my sweet friend, Mary, and her furry baby, Lilly! Lilly rides in style with her little stroller and Isaiah really enjoys his "playdates" with her. Today we loaded up our water and strollers and took off for Lake Mirror. What a great way to see God and all His creations. The mommy ducks were leading their ducklings around on little adventures. New life was everywhere! Our conversation was amazing. We both shared the many ways God has been working on us. I know great things are about to happen in Mary's life and I can't wait to be right there along side for the ride. She has a true servant's heart. After the lake we wandered over to Hollis Gardens. First stop was the koi pond. A little shade and some nice cold apple juice for Isaiah was the perfect little break. Then we explored the gardens. So much to see. Once we finished we strolled on over to Garden Bistro for a fabulous lunch. Both of the "kids" were so well behaved. Mary and I each ordered a smoked salmon salad with capers, hearts of palm and artichoke hearts. DELICIOUS! All of the passer bys were smitten with Lilly and her stroller. They were so surprised to see a lil pup with a pink bow riding alongside Isaiah. After lunch we passed through the water park and let Isaiah play in the water. Lilly was having no part of this.
I am so thankful for the people God has put in my life. Mary is a real inspiration and such a positive person to be around. Our conversations are always so real and so uplifting. God is working hard in her life and I will be praying for your next adventure, Mary! WE LOVE YOU! ps....Mary and I are looking to a new venture as we explore our roles as "Lakeland Housewives". Stay tuned for our big announcement!
Isaiah playing in the water.
Lunch!

Mary and Lilly

A New Path

Well, it's official! I will not be returning to the classroom next year (atleast not with Polk County). I will miss my Pinewood co-workers and students dearly but as any teacher today knows it has become such a time consuming career with all the paper work and hours of lesson planning. You can get so wrapped up that you lose your focus. My main focus has always been my relationship with my students but (as most things go) the county wants more, more, more. I'm all about being a great teacher but I think it has gone way too far. My main priority is to be a great mom now. For me, I couldn't see taking Isaiah to daycare at 7am and not picking him up until 5pm only to put him to bed at 630pm. I understand that many parents have to make this choice and I am in NO WAY passing judgement, this is just what is best for our family and God has blessed Michael with a career that allows us do to this. Financially we have made many sacrifices and they have all been worth it. We live the Dave Ramsey lifestyle to the best of our abilities (thanks Dad).
I have struggled quite a bit with this choice as I have been going through a bit of an identity crisis. I love my son very much but I was so used to being a teacher and having a career. I never once thought I wouldn't LOVE the opportunity to stay at home. It was my "dream". It has been a struggle. I have given up lots of adult interaction and have replaced it with tears, laughs, dirty diapers, first smiles, dirty bottles, play time and lots of laundry. It's such a change from the life I have lived the last 8 years. It's not about me and Mike anymore, it's all about Isaiah.
I have been praying and searching a lot for my greater purpose in life. Mike and I are involved in a small group called "Chazown" where we are discovering God's unique plan for each of us individually. I really feel like He is calling me to branch out and do some new things. I am praying to find just the right balance between parenting and outreach. I love spending time with my son and I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING in this world, but I am feeling the tug at my heart to raise him by example. I want to make a difference. When my time comes to meet my maker I don't want to have any regrets. I want to look back and know my life had purpose, that I made a difference and mostly that I had a hand in preparing His kingdom! I am looking forward to this new chapter and I am excited to see where it takes me. Maybe a part time job, maybe some volunteer or mentoring opportunities.....time will tell!

And then there were 5!

First there were three!


Then there were four!




And soon....there will be five!

We are so excited for our dear friends, the Cobbs'. Very soon they will be welcoming their newest little BOY into their family. YEAH for all things blue! Congrats Phil, Carrie, JC and Sutherlynn! We love you all!

"For this Child I have Prayed." - 1 Samuel 1:27

Meet "Baby Lew"! This little blessing belongs to our great friends, Mike and Stephanie Lewis. 1 Samuel 1:27 says "For this Child, I have prayed". IS THIS EVER TRUE!


Mike and Steph belong to our "family of 8 plus 3 1/2". Better translated to Bryan and Jen Stiverson, Mike and Megan Blicher, Mike and Stephanie Lewis, Mike and Jenny DeAngelis PLUS Ellie and Jason Stiverson, Isaiah DeAngelis and Baby Lew on the way. Our small group family is growing!

I am so excited about this baby for SO many reasons. First, I know that Mike and Steph are going to raise this child in God's eyes and to do His work. Secondly, Steph was one of my BIGGEST cheerleaders when I was pregnant with Isaiah. At some point we were assigned prayer partners and Steph became my warrior. She would text me EVERY morning to lift me up in prayer, especially towards the end of my pregnancy when I was barely making it through school days without a melt down. God always gave her the perfect things to say to me. She was a blessing and I let her know it! As we began a new adventure in our small group and started to expand we did prayer partners as couples. I think everyone knew that the Lewis' and DeAngelis' were going to stick together. hahahaha (probably not the most "christian" thing to do) At the time Mike and I asked for a healthy delivery and baby along with financial stability so that I could stay home. It was amazing. God was so tangible and real. It was like the Lewis' had a phone line straight to God! Isaiah and mommy were healthy on his "birth" day and it was like the Lewis' had God plant a money tree in our back yard. Now we are not wealthy by any means but Mike did receive a raise and two bonus checks and amazingly (our budget that does not work on paper) comes together every month and we stay comfortable. GOD IS GOOD! Around this time the Lewis' decided to try and start a family. Steph prepared herself for a long road because of some pre-existing issues and family history. Mike and I prayed and prayed that God would bless them with the joy that we had found. 4 months later......BABY ON THE WAY! I will always remember the morning I got the texted picture of the stick. We were in Memphis and I was exhausted but I jumped out of bed and told Mike and ran downstairs to tell my mom. We were stoked. A day later Steph was on her way to the ER with cramps and low HCG levels. The doctors prepared her for the worst (miscarriage or tubal pregnancy). My heart was breaking for her and Mike. We were so far away and all I wanted to do was hug my sweet friend. But all I could do was fall on my knees and pray for this sweet family.
Christmas morning she got the best news....BABY LEW IS ALIVE! The heart rate was low so we joined in prayer again. After several weeks and lots of ups and downs we are happy to say that BABY LEW is THRIVING! REJOICE FOR HE IS GOOD!

When I think of Stephanie my heart smiles. She is a true warrior and champion in my life. She is going to be the most amazing mother to this precious child and I can't wait to keep "doing life" with her. CONGRATS MIKE AND STEPHANIE. WE LOVE YOU!

Sunsets

Have you ever taken the time to stop and watch a sunset? I have watched several in my life and NONE compared to the one I shared this weekend with my husband, son and heavenly Father.
Life has been a whirlwind for us lately. Go, go, go, go, go! We forget to stop and rest until one of us (usually me) has a breakdown. I woke up sick Friday, probably my bodies way of saying..."hey, you, slow it down and rest"! So that's just what I did. A day on the couch, RESTING! I felt much better Saturday so when Mike came home around 3 we decided to head out to Pinellas (mainly to pick up an elyptical machine we found). When we left the ladies house it was nearing sunset and, on a whim, we decided to shoot over to the beach. WHAT A PERFECTLY TIMED OPPORTUNITY. Isaiah was amazing. He loved the water, the waves and didn't even mind the sand. He is DEFINITELY our child (beach bums for life). I sat and tried to watch the sunset through my son's eyes. As if I was seeing it for the first time. MAGICAL!





This is my FAVORITE picture from the day. It truly captured the moment for me. It brings peace and joy to my heart!

Are you there God? It's me, Jenny!

Did you read these books as a young girl? The actual book has nothing to do with this post, the title just reminded me of the day I had.
The past few months I have really been praying about my greater purpose in life. I know there is something else I am meant to do, but I don't know what it is. Mike and I are involved in a small group study that will hopefully guide us in that direction. Until then, we wait!
Most days I feel so blessed and lucky to be living this life. I am fulfilling my dream of being a stay at home mom. I get to spend every hour with my son and watch him as he learns and explores this new world. Most days this makes me very happy....then there are days like today. It didn't matter what I did he just screamed and screamed and screamed. There was nothing wrong with him (other than being tired and fighting his nap) but it led to HOURS of a tantrum. In my last bible study we talked about not waiting until the last minute to ask for God's help. Walk hand in hand with him all day and tell him your desires. Of course when a 4 month old is SCREAMING at you, you tend to forget this. So in a desperated plea I begged God to help me calm this child. Once he finally fell asleep I called Mike and completely unloaded. Tears and all. When I hung up the phone I expected to feel better, but I felt worse. Was I really complaining about this child that I loved before I even knew him? The one I have wanted for years and years? So, instead of cleaning, I decided to nose around on some blogs. I ended up on a blog of a family I don't even know. I really don't even know how I got there. But there I was reading a young mom's entry about how stressed and tired and frazzled and negative she had been with the struggles of a newborn. Her husband kindly pointed these things out to her and she reminded herself, and me, that we need to count our blessings. Focus on the positive. Positive thoughts are contagious.
Then began the water works. There HE was....GOD! Answering my prayer. Did he stop my baby from crying? NO! But he gave me a little tap on the shoulder (thanks to internet) and reminded me that HE hears me and HE is listening. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, JENNY! FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE, JENNY! WALK HAND IN HAND WITH ME THROUGH THE DAY, JENNY! I LOVE YOU, JENNY! YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER!
NOW....I will go do the laundry because I am thankful we have clothes to wash! I will go clean the dishes because that means we had food to eat. I will go wipe Isaiah's tears becuase I have a beautiful, healthy, (most days happy) son. Then, I will say my prayers and know that my Father hears me!

Family News!

What an exciting few months our family has had. I thought I would take some time and share the headliners!
My brother, aka Uncle Bubba, joined the army and is loving life! He graduated in the top ten percent of his class from boot camp and then went on to school in Oklahoma. He is now stationed in El Paso, Texas. I am so proud of him and the path he has chosen in life. Isaiah will be lucky to have him as a role model and mentor one day. Here is a picture of Private First Class James Matthew Lawrence!
Next up was the wedding of the year! My borther in law David married his best friend Kristen in October. Krissy was a BEAUTIFUL bride and David looked so handsome. I wish we could have been there to celebrate their special day but we had a little bundle on the way and doc said no traveling for the mommy to be!
Just DAYS before Isaiah was born my sister in law, Ashley, got engaged in Jamaica. She loves Nick so much and he is so good to her. They have planned their wedding for March 2012. What an exciting time this is in their lives. I can't wait to see the wedding gown she picks. She will be absolutely stunning!
To round off October we welcomed Mr. Isaiah into the world. Here is one of our family shots with the amazing Beth Carter (he was 2 weeks old).
Our newest family news happened this weekend. My mother-in-law, aka Gigi, married Pete! With all the excitement of the year they decided to exchange vows in a private ceremony and have a celebration with family and friends later. So, after a ski trip in Salt Lake City they headed off to Vegas for a wedding. What an exciting day this must have been for them. Pete makes Gina so happy.

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our family. What an amazing and blessed year God has given us. I can't wait to see what he has in store next!