Patience and Faith are my Virtues….

So…the past couple of days my sweet, much needed virtues of Patience and Faith, have been much needed.  I went to the Dr. yesterday and was told that my little man was still very high up and I was only dilated 1 centimeter.  And then on top of that I have to get another ultrasound to see how much are little guy weighs, my doc says that she is estimating that he will be 8 pounds or more.  This news was not music to my ears!!!

I honestly was going to this appointment hoping and praying that there was going to be some relief for me in near sight.  All my fellow mama’s know about the discomfort, heaviness, anxiety, and sleepless nights that come along with the tail end of pregnancy.  And I just wanted out!!!  I want my body back!  I didn’t want to have to push out a 10 pounder and I just want to see my little guy, and know what his name will be (yeah, I had a dream about another name last month, so now the name that we already had is in question :-))

But right now, with the baby chillin and the other things that have been coming up lately, I have decided to let patience and faith be my anchors.  I am believing that even with everything that is going on that God’s best is going to come from it and I still have a lot to be thankful for.  Regardless of when our baby comes and how much he weighs, I am extremely thankful to be his mommy.  I am thankful about how God has blessed my womb with my 2 previous pregnancies (40   weeks exactly w/Virginia and 39 weeks 1 day w/twins) when I was told that I wouldn’t be able to carry any child to full-term b/c of a weak cervix.

So for me I have to keep going back to my anchors, the very things that will keep me grounded and steady~patience and faith.  I have to be PATIENT w/the process and have FAITH that all things are going to work out for good and that God’s glory is going to be shown in my life.  I can’t say that I have it all together but I can say that I am believing and expecting to receive the best from every area of my life!!!

So, how about you?  What virtues are you holding on too right now????

Top Ten Before Baby To-Do List

Hello All!!!  As I was in the shower, this post came to me!

“Top Ten Before Baby To-Do List”!

1. Shave~yep this is my #1! Maybe it’s just me, but I want all my areas to be “decent and in order” for delivery day!!!

2.   Stock Up~Sams and Target runs are definately in my future! Diapers, wipes, personals, and other odds and ends are needed!

3.  Get a Pedicure~ No explanation needed!

4.  Order a Pretty Hospital Gown~  for some reason, I just want something that is super comfy yet FAB at the same time!

5.  Get a New Phone~ The new Galaxy Note II looks great!  I love the thought of being able to get everything done on one great device.

6.  Finish Organizing Home~ our laundry room needs to be cleaned, cabinets reorganized, and I would love to freshen up our living room w/new pillows, drapes (in a pretty, deep eggplant color) and getting the carpet cleaned.

7.  Get a Haircut~ nothing too drastic, but I am seriously thinking about cutting off a few extra inches just b/c I will be in the house for awhile.

8.  Meal Planning~ this will be a big plus and will save me time during the day, which I am sure I will need w/four kiddies 7 and under!

9.  Go On a Day Long Date w/Hubby~ our alone time will be limited! Between a new baby, him working full-time, returning to coaching w/ in a month and running his own program for young men, we need a day just for us before Baby Boyd gets here!

10.  Pack My Bag~  now w/ my runs to Sams and Target completed and hospital gown ordered, I will have everything that I need to pack my hospital bag…including a cute and comfy outfit to wear home from the hospital (thanks to Target’)!

Could you add anything else to my list?  If so, leave a comment!!! Blessings~

I Have Peace…

I have PEACE.  Not because I received something that I have prayed and believed God for.  Not because I got an extra thousand dollars in the mail.  Not because my kids have been on their absolute best behavior.  And not because my hubby gave me the bag, new phone and mini Ipad that I have been wanting~believe me all these things would be great for me to have and I can even see myself doing my happy dance, big belly and all, if I were to receive any one of these things…

But these aren’t the things that have brought me peace, a peace that I have never felt before.  What/Who has brought me peace is God and His presence.  Not the type of presence that is overwhelming and makes me jump and run but the type of presence that is subtle yet strong.  The type of presence that is assuring and that keeps you in a calm place even when there might be a thunderstorm going on all around you.  That’s the type of peace that I have been experiencing…This is the peace that I hope that you can experience too, all the time, everyday.

The peace that tells you that all is well even when the physical doesn’t match up.  The type of peace that will cause you to pray a silent prayer that is from so deep within that it’s even difficult to speak it into words.  The kind of peace that reminds you to confess your desired results instead of confessing the current.  This is the type of peace that I have been experiencing.  I pray that you experience God’s peace too…

Hebrews 13:20, 21~Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Philipians 4:7~And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33~I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In these world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.

>Life is……..precious

>Hello all!!
Today is “Sanctity of Human Life” Sunday….and I just so happen to have a little bit to share with all on this subject.
And here’s my testimony…..
When I was 14 yrs old, I gave my virginity away (I started to say lost but honestly I willingly gave it away). I was a freshman in high school, naive, and to be honest my knowledge on sexuality and how precious my body is was close to none. My mom didn’t relaxingly the “bird and the bees” to me so to speak. She simply said “keep your panties up and dress down”. In no way do I fault her for anything that took place….she was doing what she knew to do and until you know better you can’t do better. A few months after I started having sex, I found out that I was pregnant. And I was beyond scared!!! I didn’t tell anyone except the boyfriend and a cousin of mine that lived in Georgia. So being 14 and pretty simple, I must add, I decided that I was going to hide it. My logic was that the longer I hid it, the farther along I would be, and hopefully by the time my mama found out I’d be near nine months.
Well, that plan didn’t work. One night my mama woke up saying she had a dream about fish and asked me if I was pregnant and of course I said no. She didn’t mention it for a couple of days and then bam!! I came home from school and she was waiting with a pregnancy test and she told me to “pee on the stick”. I dipped the stick in toilet water and it came out negative and for a second, only a second, I thought that I was in the clear. But the next day, Mama was waiting with another test and this time she put on her gloves (my Mama was a caregiver and one of the best I might add) and held the stick as I used the bathroom.
And the inevitable happened…..the truth came to light. Her daughter, 14 yeas old, was indeed pregnant and completely clueless. For a few days it was very tense. My Mama wa upset and as we all know we can.
say and do somethings in the heat of the moment that aren’t right.
So, she told me to call the boyfriend and his parents. We all met, the verdict was given and my Mom gave the final say LIm not raising nobody’s baby and I’ll make the appointment”. With that said I really didn’t know what was going to happen besides I wouldn’t be pregnant anymore due to me getting an “A/B” (short for abortion,we never said the word). Long story short, I had the abortion when I was almost 5 months. I remeber having an ultrasound, finding out I was carrying a boy, crying my eyes out b/c in that moment there was absoluely nothing that I could do.
For a really long time, I was ashamed and felt horrible. I just remeber how alone I felt afterwards and being told that I was “going to hell”
As the years went by, having an abortion was my dirty little secret and when I was 20 I got pregnant again. Without thinking too much about I got another abortion. My reasoning was that the guy I was w/wasn’t daddy material and after my first pregnany I vowed to never have kids.
Then when I was 23, I got pregnant yet again…….this time it bwas different. I made up my mind that I was going to have this baby and do everything on my own ,if I had too. I went to th dr. and found out I was 6wks. A couple of nights later while I was at work I started bleeding really bad. Long story short, I miscarried and my dr. told me that due to my 2 prior abortions my cervix was really weakand it would be a miracle if I evr carried a child to full term.
I was completely devestated b/c I made these choices and it was all my fault. A friend of mine called me not too long after I heard the news and invite me to church(thanks friend). I went. Repeneted, rededicated my life to Christ,joined my church, was filled with the Holy Spirit , and strted working in the children’s ministry. By no means was forgiving kmyself and others an easy process. It took a lot of time, tears, prayer, and surrender. But eventually I was able to forgive myself and accept God’s forgiveness and unconditional love.
When I was 25,God blessed me with a saved, sanctified, and Holy Spirit filled husband(very handsome I might add:-)). And on our one month anniversary, I found out we were expecting!! To wrap of of this up, at 30 years young we have a beautiful 4 yr old daughter and 19 month old twins. I went full term with Maddie and delievered her at exactly 40 wks. And with the twins,I carried them 39wks and 1day…….
The point of all this is that life is precious and God is a God of restoration. The mistakes that I made, the hurt and guilt that I felt were all covered in the blood of Jesus. If He did it for me, He can definately do it for you! Trust Him, Nothingos is impossible 4 God……..
PS*My Mama lived to see God bless me w/my hubby and Maddie. I can honestly say that she was the bestest “MawMaw” ever and our relationship was better than it had ever been……(my God is awesome!!!!)

>Are you supportive?!!!

>Over the past few weeks I’ve been hearing a lot about being supportive. And it has really blessed me. More than anything I see how support and loyalty are siblings (so to speak). When I am supportive(of my husband, kids, family, ministry etc) I have to believe whole hearted in not only the vision but the person that the vision is being carried through. There has to be a dedicated love that will cause you to stand in full agreement w/the vision that God has chosen to put in the earth through a specific person.
By no means I am I saying that being supportive is always easy, but it is necessary in our homes and churches. Support can come in the form of prayer, love, money, kind words, follow through, help, using your gifts and
talents to be a blessing to someone else, being truthful even when it hurts, attentiveness, having positive attitude
going the extra mile when being mediocre is easier, and continuing to see the person
by Gods standard when its more convenient to see their mistakes.
Being supportive to a God given vision is imperative nowadays, but its up to us a Young people to be loyal enough to see Gods work come to pass. Will you stay on the course? I guarantee that the best is yet to come………