Ty's First Thanksgiving

This year our Thanksgiving was extra special thanks to Ty. It was our first time celebrating the holiday back in Orlando since our engagement in 2003. And our first Thanksgiving we spent together as a family ... Chris, Ty and myself. It was awesome. We have so much to be thankful for this year.

Love, forgiveness, honesty, and thankfulness …

Those are just a few of the qualities you learn being a follower of Christ. And this year we got the honor and privilege of sharing what we are thankful for with family and friends.
Every year brings new experiences, memories, challenges and rewards. This year Chris and I were blessed to conceive, develop and birth our first precious baby boy. We have been over joyed by the blessings this adventure has brought us so far. And love every moment we spend with him.

Just a few years back we would have not have thought that this time was possible. After an unfortunate miscarriage in 2005 and years of unsuccessful attempts we had almost given up trying to raise a family. But God showed his love and mercy on us this year and here I am writing this blog post with a precious (and quite adorable) baby sleeping on my chest.

That is what we were thankful for this year.

Being Pregnant is Bringing Me Closer to God

It really is am amazing experience to carry another life inside your body and watch as they grow and develop. You begin to be amazed at how really smart our Lord is. Nothing that happens on this plant is by accident or coincidence. God really sat down and thought out His plans during those 7 days long ago. I am just in awe at how my little Ty knows when to start developing all his little parts. Even though he is just a small tiny life, he is doing so much already. I can't help to think that he really isn't alone in there. That the Holy Spirit Himself comes to Ty and whispers in his little ears when to start the next step and how to do it, guiding his growth at every moment. I have to thank God for that, I know I wouldn't be able to tell little Ty what to do in there.

Just thinking of that process and how much God cares for even the smallest, unseen things in this world makes me realize how much He must care for me too. I have started to spend much more time praying and reading His Word now just so I can spend time with the One who is forming my baby. Our true OB GYN at work. I even decided that now was the best time to start another time of fasting. Since I started to do this we have seen some amazing things happen. A lot of my annoying symptoms have really started to dwindle, Ty is wiggling around a lot more (especially when we listen to some our of Jesus music), and the greatest of all Chris was able to get a job. We aren't rich yet, but his employment opportunity is a blessing in so many different ways. It's times like these when I have a 'Duh' moment and remember if only I prayed and fasted like this regularly blessings would flow so much more.

Peace Out

My Body Week 22

Now into my 22nd week and I had a revelation this week ... I am ready to be a mother. I know it is a little late in the game to finally get to this point, but hey better late then never. I think it finally hit my this past Tuesday when Chris and I attended a breastfeeding class held at Babies R Us. We arrived about 15 minutes early so we cruised around the store scanning more random stuff to add to our registry then headed to the class location. There were approximately 5 other pregos at the class and 1 other guy. It was a simple class, with a video and then additional info by Meg, a lactation specialist and mid-wife. She was pretty cool, relaxed and informative. But anyways ... I'm rambling ... it was during the class that I began to envision breastfeeding and taking care of little Ty and I started to feel all motherly and get excited. FINALLY!!!

The little monkey is starting to grow even more. He weights around a pound now (yeah ... no more just ounces). Oh and his eye lids are forming ... cute. Check it out here on babycenter.com week 22.

As for me ... well I am not all that great.

As for the pregnancy, I am doing pretty good. The most exciting mile stone for me this week is I am starting to feel those fun and exciting braxton hicks contractions. I had one really strong one this past weekend, but they are mostly just uncomfortable and weird. Chris got to feel my stomach during one and felt on tight and hard it got.

I am not that great because of my forever hurting tooth. It has gotten progressively worse to the point where it is unbearable now. I made poor Chris have to leave a movie we paid for (no refunds) after only 15 minutes into because the pain was so bad. Good news is that I finally spoke directly with someone at Medicaid regarding my account specifically and I have a higher level of Medicaid then I thought and I now have the name and number of the specialist that will be able to do the procedure I need, probably next week. I will have to tough it out for this weekend, but knowing that the end is near makes it just slightly easier.

I really have to give God the praise and glory for this one. I was really reaching out to Him for this and just when I felt I reached my limit I received the news and answer to my prayers. God is awesome.

Peace Out

My 21 Day Fast

This weekend my Pastor started a series on Getting A Fresh Start on life. Part of this series he is proposing to the entire congregation a 21 day fast. He has even created a website dedicated to this mission to help everyone involved. http://www.freshstartseries.com/. Chris and I signed the commitment forms but I still need to figure out what it is I'm going to fast from. There are so many different ways to fast, you do not have to do the food fast all the time. A few years ago I fasted from juice and soda, I could only drink water. I did it for 3 months and it was awesome.

I have figured out what it is I am fasting for though. Here are my reasons

1) My prayer life - for increased frequency, content and depth.

2) My marriage to Chris, how we communicate and they different ways I can show him respect.

3) The move we are making.

4) What I do to occupy my free time, how productive and active I am being.

5) My business, how I approach it and the changes we have planned for the new year. See http://faevent.com/blog/2009/01/the-right-direction/

Are you planning on participating in the 21 day fast also? What do you plan on fasting from and what are you fasting for?